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arXiv · physics/0607248

Photodetachment of cold OH- in a multipole ion trap

Abstract

The absolute photodetachment cross section of OH- anions at a rotational and translational temperature of 170K is determined by measuring the detachment-induced decay rate of the anions in a multipole radio-frequency ion trap. In comparison with previous results, the obtained cross section shows the importance of the initial rotational state distribution. Using a tomography scan of the photodetachment laser through the trapped ion cloud, the derived cross section is model-independent and thus features a small systematic uncertainty. The tomography also yields the column density of the OH- anions in the 22-pole ion trap in good agreement with the expected trapping potential of a large field free region bound by steep potential walls.

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S. Trippel, J. Mikosch, R. Berhane, R. Otto, M. Weidemüller, R. Wester. 2006-11-05. Photodetachment of cold OH- in a multipole ion trap. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.97.193003

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