Low energy states of NdO+ probed by photoelectron spectroscopy

Abstract

The ionization energy (IE) of NdO and the low-energy electronic states of NdO+ have been examined by means of two-color photoionization spectroscopy. The value obtained for the IE, 5.5083(2) eV, is 0.54 eV higher than previous estimates. This leads to the conclusion that the autoionization reaction Nd + O ā†’ NdO+ + eāˆ’ is exothermic by 1.76(10) eV. Thirty vibronic levels of NdO+ arising from eight electronic states were observed with partial rotational resolution. The energy level pattern and supporting electronic structure calculations indicated that all of the observed states correlated with the Nd3+(4f3, 4I)O2āˆ’ configuration. The structure was consistent with a ligand field theory model where the electronic states of the Nd3+(4f3, 4I) atomic ion define a repeated motif in the electronic state energy intervals of the molecular ion. Comparisons with UO+ show close similarity in the electronic structures of these isoelectronic species.

Document Details

Document Type
Pub Defense Publication
Publication Date
Mar 15, 2019
Source ID
10.1063/1.5089239

Entities

People

  • Michael C Heaven
  • Robert A. Vangundy
  • Thomas D Persinger

Organizations

  • Air Force Office of Scientific Research
  • Emory University

Tags

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Molecular Photonics/Laser Physics
  • Quantum Chemistry
  • Theoretical Analysis.

Technology Areas

  • Microelectronics