High-Resolution Photoelectron Imaging of Cryogenically Cooled BiB and BiB Bismuth-Boron Clusters.

We report a high-resolution photoelectron imaging study of cryogenically cooled BiB and BiB clusters. Vibrational features are completely resolved for the ground-state detachment transitions, providing critical information about the structures of the anionic clusters and their corresponding neutrals. The electron affinities of BiB and BiB are accurately measured to be 2.

Observation of an electron-precise metal boryne complex: [BiBH].

Metal-boron triple bonds are rare due to the electron deficiency of boron. This study uncovers a simple electron-precise metal boryne complex, [BiBH], which is produced within an ion trap through chemical reactions of the open-shell BiB anion with H. Photoelectron imaging is used to investigate the electronic structure and chemical bonding of the BiBH complex.

On the electronic structure and spin-orbit coupling of BiB from photoelectron imaging of cryogenically-cooled BiB- anion.

We report a study on the electronic structure and chemical bonding of the BiB molecule using high-resolution photoelectron imaging of cryogenically cooled BiB- anion. By eliminating all the vibrational hot bands, we can resolve the complicated detachment transitions due to the open-shell nature of BiB and the strong spin-orbit coupling. The electron affinity of BiB is measured to be 2.

Photoelectron imaging of cryogenically cooled BiO and BiO anions.

The advent of ion traps as cooling devices has revolutionized ion spectroscopy as it is now possible to efficiently cool ions vibrationally and rotationally to levels where truly high-resolution experiments are now feasible. Here, we report the first results of a new experimental apparatus that couples a cryogenic 3D Paul trap with a laser vaporization cluster source for high-resolution photoelectron imaging of cold cluster anions. We have demonstrated the ability of the new apparatus to efficiently cool BiO and BiO to minimize vibrational hot bands and allow high-resolution photoelectron images to be obtained.