title: Heteronuclear and homonuclear high-spin alkali trimers on helium nanodroplets.
abstract: The electronic excitation spectra of all possible homo- and heteronuclear high-spin (quartet) trimers of K and Rb (KxRb(3-x), x=0...3) assembled on the surface of superfluid helium droplets, are measured in the spectral range from 10,600 to 17,400 cm(-1). A regular series of corresponding bands is observed, reflecting the similar electronic structure of all these trimers. For the assignment and separation of overlapping bands, we determine x directly, with mass-selected beam depletion, and indirectly with a V-type double-resonance scheme. The assignment is confirmed by high-level ab initio calculations of the electronic structure of the bare trimers. The level structure is rationalized in terms of harmonic-oscillator states of the three valence electrons in a quantum-dot-like confining potential. We predict that three should be a magic number for high-spin alkali clusters.
authors: Institute of Experimental Physics, TU Graz, Petersgasse 16, A-8010 Graz, Austria, EU.
authors: Johann
authors: J
authors: Nagl
authors: Gerald
authors: G
authors: Auböck
authors: Andreas W
authors: AW
authors: Hauser
authors: Olivier
authors: O
authors: Allard
authors: Carlo
authors: C
authors: Callegari
authors: Wolfgang E
authors: WE
authors: Ernst