Electron transfer from state-selected Rydberg atoms to (N2O) m and (CF3Cl) m clusters

Electron transfer from state-selected Ar** (ns, nd) Rydberg atoms to neutral (N₂O) _m and (CF₃Cl) _m clusters has been studied for principal quantum numbersn between 10 and 45. The dominant product ions are (N₂O) _q ·O^? and, dependent on stagnation pressure, (CF₃Cl) _q ·Cl^? or (CF₃Cl) _q ·FCl^?, respectively. In both cases we observe a strongn-dependence of the negative cluster ion spectra. While for lown, broad ion distributions are observed, much narrower distributions are found for highn, especially for N₂O negative cluster ions around the dominant species (N₂O)₆·O^?, corresponding to a remarkably size-selective process. Possible reasons for this behaviour are briefly discussed.