Studies of femtosecond relaxation dynamics and fast ion–molecule reactions with low-energy electrons

Abstract

Electron localization in solids and liquids is caused by time-dependent perturbations of the media surrounding the charge. The perturbations active on the femtosecond time scale include electronic polarization, as well as intra and intermolecular vibrational excitations, which contribute to the formation of a potential well around the charge. It is shown that information on these perturbations as well as on femtosecond reactions can be obtained by studying the formation of transient anions in dielectric solids and at their surfaces using high-resolution electron beam techniques at low energies (0–20 eV). The results obtained with Ar, N2, O2, and organic thin solid films condensed on a Pt substrate are described.