A study of the target gas dependence on the collisional ionization mass spectra of some metastable and hypervalent molecules

Gregory I. Gellene, Richard F. Porter

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36 Scopus citations

Abstract

Collisional ionization mass spectra of a fast beam of neutral molecules with ionization potentials in the range 4-5 eV have been obtained with a series of target gases, NO2, O2, N2 and He. Neutral beams were generated in a near resonant electron transfer process X+ +K(g) → X* + K+ where X+ is He2+, H3+, ND4+ or N2D7+. The efficiency of collisional ionization of metastable He2* and the ground state radicals ND4 and N2D7 on target gas decreases in the order NO2 > O2 > N2 > He. Of the four neutral species studied, only in the case of H3* is a change in rotational state of the projectile required for ionization. This restriction may explain the lack of an apparent target gas dependence on the efficiency of ionizing H3*. The technique is extended to a study of the CD5 radical where no evidence for metastability is observed. An upper limit of 10-8 s is set on the lifetime of this species.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)55-66
Number of pages12
JournalInternational Journal of Mass Spectrometry and Ion Processes
Volume64
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 15 1985

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