RUI: Spectroscopy and Structure of Negative Ions

Denison University, Granville OH

Investigators

Abstract

This project focuses on the study of the interactions of photons with negative ions in two series of experiments. The first studies will use the crossed kilovolt ion beam/tunable laser method to measure high precision photodetachment cross sections near threshold in a static electric field. Both I- and Bi- will be studied in electric fields up to several kV/cm to characterize rescattering effects in which the emerging electron's wavefunction is reflected by the electric field potential and scattered by the now neutral atomic core. Subsequently, the faculty and student researchers will investigate static electric effects on the newly discovered unique excited states in Os-. The second series of complementary experiments will proceed in parallel. Using the Advanced Light Source (ALS) as a source of high energy photons, inner-shell photodetachment from C- and B- will be investigated.