Evidence for stable Rydberg states in the presence of an electron scavenger: The ZEKE spectrum of the toluene center dot SF6 complex

W D Geppert, C E H Dessent, M C R Cockett, K Muller-Dethlefs

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Abstract

ZEKE and MATI spectroscopies have been used to study the toluene SF6 complex, revealing that high-n Rydberg states appear to be stable in the presence of a strong electron scavenger such as SF6. The lifetimes are significantly longer than predicted by the 'free electron model', suggesting that the molecular collisions inherent in previous cross-beam studies are crucial for effecting electron transfer. The study also provided spectroscopic information on toluene SF6, including the S-1-S-0 transition energy, 37485.9 +/- 0.6 cm(-1), and the adiabatic ionisation energy, 70 688.6 +/- 1.2 cm-l. Binding energies of 739 +/- 23, 731 +/- 23 and 1250 +/- 20 cm(-1) were determined for the S-0, S-1 and D-0 states, respectively. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)194-200
Number of pages7
JournalChemical Physics Letters
Volume303
Issue number1-2
Publication statusPublished - 2 Apr 1999

Keywords

  • CROSS-SECTIONS
  • SF6
  • ATTACHMENT
  • MOLECULES
  • TOLUENE
  • ENERGY
  • SPECTROSCOPY
  • IONIZATION
  • CATION
  • BEAM

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