Long-term monitoring of the internal energy distribution of isolated cluster systems

TL;DR

This paper introduces a method to monitor the internal energy distribution of isolated cluster systems over time, using delayed electron detachment and laser scans, revealing thermal equilibrium behavior and radiative properties.

Contribution

It presents a novel approach combining pulsed photoexcitation and delayed electron detection to analyze internal energy distributions in cluster anions.

Findings

Calibrated detachment delay to internal energy in cryogenic conditions

Reconstructed time-dependent energy distributions at room temperature

Observed approach to thermal equilibrium and derived radiative properties

Abstract

A method is presented to monitor the internal energy distribution of cluster anions via delayed electron detachment by pulsed photoexcitation and demonstrated on Co$_4{}^-$ in an electrostatic ion beam trap. In cryogenic operation, we calibrate the detachment delay to internal energy. By laser frequency scans, at room temperature, we reconstruct the time-dependent internal energy distribution of the clusters. The mean energies of ensembles from a cold and a hot ion source both approach thermal equilibrium. Our data yield a radiative emission law and the absorptivity of the cluster for thermal radiation.