Vibrational autodetachment spectroscopy of Au−6 : Image-charge-bound states of a gold ring

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Abstract
Spectral experiments on mass‐selected negative cluster ions of gold and silver were performed in the wavelength range near the threshold for one‐photon photodetachment of the extra electron. The Au−6 cluster ion displayed a uniquely well resolved spectrum consisting of a progression in a single vibrational mode. Details of this threshold photodetachment spectrum and the associated photoelectron energy distribution suggest an explanation based on autodetachment from totally symmetric vibrational levels of very weakly bound excited electronic state (bound by image charge forces) of the Au−6 cluster in the form of a planar, six‐fold symmetric, gold ring.