Enhanced Ionization of Embedded Clusters by Electron-Transfer-Mediated Decay in Helium Nanodroplets.
We report the observation of electron-transfer-mediated decay (ETMD) involving magnesium (Mg) clusters embedded in helium (He) nanodroplets. ETMD is initiated by the ionization of He followed by removal of two electrons from the Mg clusters of which one is transferred to the He ion while the other electron is emitted into the continuum. The process is shown to be the dominant ionization mechanism for embedded clusters for photon energies above the ionization potential of He. For Mg clusters larger than five atoms we observe stable doubly ionized clusters. Thus, ETMD provides an efficient pathway to the formation of doubly ionized cold species in doped nanodroplets.
Physikalisches Institut, Universität Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany.
A C
AC
LaForge
Physikalisch-Chemisches Institut, Universität Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
V
V
Stumpf
Physikalisch-Chemisches Institut, Universität Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
K
K
Gokhberg
Physikalisches Institut, Universität Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany.
J
J
von Vangerow
Physikalisches Institut, Universität Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany.
F
F
Stienkemeier
Physikalisch-Chemisches Institut, Universität Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
N V
NV
Kryzhevoi
CNR-Istituto di Struttura della Materia, CP10, 00016 Monterotondo Scalo, Italy.
P
P
O'Keeffe
CNR-Istituto di Struttura della Materia, CP10, 00016 Monterotondo Scalo, Italy.
A
A
Ciavardini
Department of Physics, Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, Chennai 600 036, India.
S R
SR
Krishnan
CNR-Istituto di Struttura della Materia, CP10, 00016 Monterotondo Scalo, Italy.
M
M
Coreno
Elettra-Sincrotrone Trieste, Basovizza, Trieste 34149, Italy.
K C
KC
Prince
Elettra-Sincrotrone Trieste, Basovizza, Trieste 34149, Italy.
R
R
Richter
Max-Planck-Institut für Kernphysik, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany.
R
R
Moshammer
Max-Planck-Institut für Kernphysik, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany.
T
T
Pfeifer
Physikalisch-Chemisches Institut, Universität Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
L S
LS
Cederbaum
Physikalisches Institut, Universität Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany.
M
M
Mudrich