Formation and photodepletion of cluster ion-messenger atom complexes in a cold ion trap:Infrared spectroscopy of VO~+,VO_2~+,and VO_3~+

摘要

A novel experimental technique is desribed in which radiation from a free electron laser is used to measure infrared spectra of gas-phase cluster ions via vibrational predissociation of the corresponding ion-messenger atom complexes.The weakly bound complexes are formed in a temperature-controllable,radio frequency ion trap.This technique is applied to the study of the vibrational spectroscopy of hte monovanadium oxide cluster catins VO~+,VO_2~+,and VO_3~+.