Photodetachment of the H– ion in a forced harmonic potential

Abstract

The photodetachment of a H– ion in a forced harmonic potential driven by a general time-dependent oscillating electric field has been investigated in the semi-classical closed orbit theory for the first time. It is found that the driven electric field frequency can affect the photodetachment cross-section of this system greatly. If the frequency of the driving electric field is equal to the harmonic frequency, a resonance phenomenon occurs in the classical motion of the detached electron. The interference effect between the returning electron wave travelling along the closed orbit with the initial outgoing wave gets stronger, causing the photodetachment cross-section to oscillate in a complicated manner. When the frequency of the driving electric field is unequal to the harmonic frequency, the driving electric field can weaken or strengthen the oscillatory structure in the photodetachment cross-section. In addition, the strength and initial phase in the driving electric field can also influence the photodetachment dynamics of the system. Our work provides a new method for controlling the photodetachment of negative ions in a harmonic potential and may guide future experimental research for cavity dynamics or in the ion trap.