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Title: Exciton energy transfer reveals spectral signatures of excited states in clusters
Electronic excitation and concomitant energy transfer leading to Penning ionization in argon–acetylene clusters generated in a supersonic expansion are investigated with synchrotron-based photoionization mass spectrometry and electronic structure calculations. Spectral features in the photoionization efficiency of the mixed argon–acetylene clusters reveal a blue shift from the 2 P 1/2 and 2 P 3/2 excited states of atomic argon. Analysis of this feature suggests that excited states of argon clusters transfer energy to acetylene, resulting in its ionization and successive evaporation of argon. Theoretically calculated Ar n ( n = 2–6) cluster spectra are in excellent agreement with experimental observations, and provide insight into the structure and ionization dynamics of the clusters. A comparison between argon–acetylene and argon–water clusters reveals that argon solvates water better, allowing for higher-order excitons and Rydberg states to be populated. These results are explained by theoretical calculations of respective binding energies and structures.  more » « less
Award ID(s):
1856490
PAR ID:
10191132
Author(s) / Creator(s):
; ; ; ;
Date Published:
Journal Name:
Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics
Volume:
22
Issue:
25
ISSN:
1463-9076
Page Range / eLocation ID:
14284 to 14292
Format(s):
Medium: X
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
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