Determination of electron binding energies of ground-state dipole-bound molecular anions

We describe two simple models for the determination of electron binding energies (${\mathit{E}}_{\mathit{b}}$) of several dipole-bound negative ions from field-detachment experiments and charge-transfer formation-rate-constant measurements in collisions between cold neutral molecules and Rydberg atoms. These models are able to correctly reproduce the experimental data, from which we deduce two compatible sets of ${\mathit{E}}_{\mathit{b}}$ values. A curve-crossing model for calculating anion formation rate constants allows us to qualitatively understand the sharply peaked shapes of the experimental curves and to derive a simple quantitative law between ${\mathit{E}}_{\mathit{b}}$ values and principal Rydberg quantum numbers at which anion formation rate constants are maximum.