Autodetachment spectroscopy of a molecular anion using a diode laser

摘要

Abstract: Autodetachment spectroscopy, a technique for studying molecular anions, has been applied to the past using color-center lasers or visible dye lasers. In the present work, the technique has been extended to employ a relatively weak diode laser. Laser radiation drives an infrared vibrational-rotational transition in the molecular anion NH$+$MIN$/. The vibrationally excited anion autodetaches, and the resulting fast neutral is detected. The P$-1$/ (6.5, e- $GRT e) transition in the fundamental (1 $LS -0) band of NH$+$MIN$/ has been observed near 2806 cm$+$MIN@1$/ with a signal to noise ratio of 15:1 with a 30-s averaging time. The present experiment has fewer than 500 ions of a single quantum state in the apparatus at once, interacting with 5 microwatts of laser power. Future instrumental improvements can yield orders of magnitude improvement in sensitivity.!18