Imaging spectroscopy of rubidium atoms attached to helium nanodroplets

TL;DR

This study uses imaging spectroscopy to investigate highly excited rubidium atoms attached to helium nanodroplets, revealing dissociation dynamics and electronic state behaviors through photoionization and imaging techniques.

Contribution

It provides new insights into the excited states and dissociation processes of Rb atoms on helium nanodroplets using combined spectroscopic and imaging methods.

Findings

Good agreement with pseudodiatomic model

Fast dissociation in excited states

Statistical evaporation-like desorption

Abstract

Highly excited states of rubidium (Rb) atoms attached to helium (He) nanodroplets are studied by two-photon ionization spectroscopy in combination with electron and ion imaging. Photoion spectra and angular distributions are in good agreement with a pseudodiatomic model for the RbHe_N complex. Repulsive interactions in the excited states entail fast dissociation followed by ionization of free Rb atoms as well as of RbHe and RbHe_2 exciplexes. Nonresonant excitation generates Rb atoms in low-lying electronic levels by statistical evaporation-like desorption.