Cryogenic merged-ion-beam experiments in DESIREE : Final-state-resolved mutual neutralization of Li+ and D-

We have developed an experimental technique to study charge-and energy-flow processes in sub-eV collisions between oppositely charged, internally cold, ions of atoms, molecules, and clusters. Two ion beams are stored in separate rings of the cryogenic ion-beam storage facility DESIREE, and merged in a common straight section where a set of biased drift tubes is used to control the center-of-mass collision energy locally in fine steps. Here, we present measurements on mutual neutralization between Li+ and D- where a time-sensitive imaging-detector system is used to measure the three-dimensional distance between the neutral Li and D atoms as they reach the detector. This scheme allows for direct measurements of kinetic-energy releases, and here it reveals separate populations of the 3s state and the (3p + 3d) states in neutral Li while the D atom is left in its ground state 1s. The branching fraction of the 3s final state is measured to be 57.8 +/- 0.7% at a center-of-mass collision energy of 78 +/- 13 meV. The technique paves the way for studies of charge-, energy-, and mass-transfer reactions in single collisions involving molecular and cluster ions in well-defined quantum states

High-precision electron affinity of oxygen

Negative ions are important in many areas of science and technology, e.g., in interstellar chemistry, for accelerator-based radionuclide dating, and in anti-matter research. They are unique quantum systems where electron-correlation effects govern their properties. Atomic anions are loosely bound systems, which with very few exceptions lack optically allowed transitions. This limits prospects for high-resolution spectroscopy, and related negative-ion detection methods. Here, we present a method to measure negative ion binding energies with an order of magnitude higher precision than what has been possible before. By laser-manipulation of quantum-state populations, we are able to strongly reduce the background from photodetachment of excited states using a cryogenic electrostatic ion-beam storage ring where keV ion beams can circulate for up to hours. The method is applicable to negative ions in general and here we report an electron affinity of 1.461 112 972(87) eV for O-16. High-precision measurements are useful to find isotopic shifts and electron correlation. Here the authors measure electron affinity and hyperfine splitting of atomic oxygen with higher precision than previous studies