Time-resolved observation of geometrical reorientations of metal clusters

Abstract

Ultrafast geometrical relaxation of Ag3 clusters in the gas phase was studied by two-color femtosecond NeNePo spectroscopy. The first fs laser puls created a vibrational wave packet in Ag3 by photodetachment from Ag3. The subsequent geometrical relaxation in the neutral Ag3 was monitored by resonant two-photon ionization with a second laser pulse (Negative to Neutral to Positive, "NeNePo"). Fast bending of the initially linear Ag3 was observed. Under given experimental conditions, no wave packet dynamics was resolved. This finding can be explained by very fast intracluster vibrational relaxation.