Abstract
We present the results of a Coulomb explosion experiment that allows for the imaging of the rovibrational wave function of the metastable ion. Our measurements confirm the predicted large internuclear separation of 6 a.u., and they show that the ion decays by autodetachment rather than by spontaneous dissociation. Imaging of the resulting products reveals a large angular momentum of , quantifying the rotation that leads to the metastability of this most fundamental molecular anion.
- Received 17 August 2011
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.107.193003
© 2011 American Physical Society
Synopsis
The Simplest Molecular Anion
Published 3 November 2011
Experiments map the structure and decay of the elusive molecular ion.
See more in Physics