Structure and stability of the negative hydrogen molecular ion

Abstract

We present the results of a Coulomb explosion experiment that allows for the imaging of the rovibrational wave function of the metastable H2- ion. Our measurements confirm the predicted large internuclear separation of 6 a.u., and they show that the ion decays by autodetachment rather than by spontaneous dissociation. Imaging of the resulting H2 products reveals a large angular momentum of J=25±2, quantifying the rotation that leads to the metastability of this most fundamental molecular anion. © 2011 American Physical Society.