Vibrational autodetachment of NO-

Abstract

We report infrared cross sections for the photodetachment of the molecular anion NO- in the energy range of 1100-1500 cm-1. The measurements are made with a coaxial ion beam-laser beam aparatus. We observe a vibrational autodetachment resonance centered at 1284±10 cm-1. The resonance has a full width at half-maximum of 170 cm-1 corresponding to a lifetime of 0.35x10-12 s for NO-(υ = 1). The present value for the vibrational frequency of NO- is significantly lower than previous estimates obtained from photoelectron spectroscopy of NO- and from electron scattering resonances in NO. We discuss the implications of our results with regard to previous measurements of infrared photodetachment cross sections in the region 3000-4100 cm -1. © 1989 American Institute of Physics.