title: Transient x-ray absorption spectroscopy of hydrated halogen atom.
abstract: Time-resolved x-ray absorption spectroscopy has been used to observe the transient species generated by one-photon detachment of an electron from aqueous bromide. The K-edge spectrum of the short-lived Br(0) atom exhibits a resonant 1s-4p transition that is absent for the Br(-) precursor. The strong 1s-4p resonance suggests that there is very little charge transfer from the solvent to the open-shell atom, whereas weak oscillations above the absorption edge indicate that the solvent shell around a neutral Br(0) atom is defined primarily by hydrophobic interactions. These conclusions are in agreement with Monte Carlo and quantum chemical simulations of the solvent structure.
authors.affiliation: Chemistry Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, Illinois 60439, USA. elles@usc.edu
authors.forename: Christopher G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Elles
authors.forename: Ilya A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Shkrob
authors.forename: Robert A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Crowell
authors.forename: Dohn A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Arms
authors.forename: Eric C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Landahl