Dynamics and Dissociation of Collisionally Formed Heavy-Rydberg Ion-Pair States

[摘要] Heavy-Rydberg ion-pair states, molecular quantum systems that are bound by their long-range pure Coulomb attraction, are formed through Rydberg atom collisions with molecules that attach low energy electrons. Collisions of potassium Rydberg atoms K(np) with the attaching species CCl4 and SF6 lead, respectively, to dissociative and non-dissociative electron attachment with subsequent formation of bound ion-pair states K+..Cl- and K+..SF6-.The experimental apparatus used to produce and detect heavy-Rydberg ion-pair states consists of a reaction region and a separate analysis region. It separates a fraction of the product ion pairs from the parent Rydberg atoms, eliminating spurious background signals associated with blackbody-induced and electric-field ionization of Rydberg atoms. A position sensitive detector in the analysis region is employed to measure their velocity, angular, and binding energy distribution and lifetimes. Measurements of the spatial distribution of ion pairs provide information on their velocity and angular distributions, and their binding energy distribution is measured using electric field-induced dissociation. The lifetime of the ion-pair states is influenced by multiple processes including internal-to-translational energy transfer, autodetachment of the electron, and neutralization through charge transfer.The experimental results are compared with the results of a Monte Carlo collision code that models both the initial Rydberg electron attachment and the subsequent evolution and molecular dynamics of the ion pairs. This model highlights the factors such as the kinematics of the Rydberg atomand the attaching particle and energy released in dissociation (in the case of dissociative attachment) that are important in governing ion pair formation. The model calculations are in good agreement with the experimental data.

[发布机构] Rice University

[效力级别] Atom