Electron-impact fragmentation of Cl-2(-)

• A merged beam technique has been used to investigate the fragmentation of the Cl-2(-) ion in collisions with electrons over an energy range of 0-200 eV. We have measured absolute cross sections for detachment, detachment plus dissociation and dissociation processes. Over the energy range studied, the dominant breakup mechanism is dissociation. Dissociation is relatively enhanced in the e(-)+Cl-2(-) collision system due to the suppression of the normally dominant detachment process, as a result of the large difference between the equilibrium internuclear distances of the Cl-2 and Cl-2(-) ground state potential curves. A prominent structure is observed just above the threshold in the Cl-+Cl+e(-) dissociation channel. It is proposed that the structure is a resonance associated with production and rapid decay of an excited state of the doubly charged Cl-2(-) ion. A plausible mechanism for production of the di-anionic state based on an excitation plus capture process is suggested.

Subject headings

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Fysik (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Physical Sciences (hsv//eng)

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Fysik -- Atom- och molekylfysik och optik (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Physical Sciences -- Atom and Molecular Physics and Optics (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Physics

Fysik

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