Interferences in photodetachment of a triatomic negative ion

Abstract

The photodetachment of a triatomic negative ion is studied and the detached-electron wave function is obtained as a superposition of coherent waves originating from each atom of the system. The photodetached electron flux is evaluated on a screen placed at a large distance from the system, which displays strong interferences. A simple analytical formula is also obtained for the total photodetachment cross section. The formula approaches one time the cross sections for the one-center and two-center systems in the high photon energy limits. Also it approaches three times the cross section for one-center system in the low photon energy limits.

Oscillations in the total photodetachment cross sections of a triatomic anion

“…2 in agreement with Afaq et al [38]. But when the direction of laser polarization is not perpendicular to the axis, we observe a hint of oscillation as illustrated in the insert.…”

“…In the triatomic anion, one active electron is assumed. This is an extension of the twocenter model for photodetachment [34][35][36] to a three-center model by Afaq et al [38]. In the photodetachment process, there are two steps: in the first step, the active electron absorbs one photon energy E ph and escapes from the negative anion as an electron wave from each center; in the second step, the outgoing waves from each center propagate out to large distances.…”

“…First we show the cross section obtained by Afaq et al [38] for the perpendicular configuration can be obtained from the general formulas. When the laser polarization direction is perpendicular to the direction of the axis, θ L = π 2 .…”

“…To understand the structural information on linear triatomic negative anions such as BeCl − 2 ,HCN − ,CS − 2 and CO − 2 [37], Afaq et al [38] recently studied the photodetachment of a triatomic anion with three centers when the axis of the triatomic ion is perpendicular to the laser polarization direction. Interference patterns for detached-electron on a screen placed at a large distance from the system were demonstrated, but the total cross section was found to be smooth and no oscillation was observed for this configuration.…”

Classification of partially reflecting surfaces using photodetached electron spectrum

“…T he interesting physics of the photodetachment process and the practical applications of the photodetachment microscopy have attracted special attention in the recent years [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10]. The study of the behavior of a detached electron from a negative ion lying in a magnetic field or electric field or near a metallic surface is important in the understanding of the physics of negative ions and surfaces.…”