title: Electronic excitation and thermal effects in alkali-halide cluster anions
abstract: We have observed electronically excited states in alkali-halide cluster anions with one excess electron. Using photoelectron spectroscopy, we have found two narrow states in (KI)-2, (NaI)-2, and (NaCl)-2, consistent with a dipole-bound electron, while larger cluster anions exhibit a single broad excited state. In the larger systems, electronic excitation is often accompanied by vibrational excitation and thus a change in cluster temperature. Such temperature changes affect cluster structure and in some cases lead to rapid thermal isomerization.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22903, USA.
authors.initials: FK
authors.lastname: Fatemi
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Dally
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Bloomfield