USING REFLECTRON TIME-OF-FLIGHT MASS-SPECTROMETER TECHNIQUES TO INVESTIGATE CLUSTER DYNAMICS AND BONDING

Laser based time-of-flight mass spectrometer systems affixed with refl ectrons are valuable tools for investigating cluster dynamics and reac tions, spectroscopy and structures. Utilizing the reflectron time-of-f light mass spectrometer techniques, both decay fractions and kinetic e nergy releases of metastable cluster ions can be measured with high pr ecision. By applying related theoretical models, the desired thermoche mical values of metastable species can be deduced, which are otherwise very difficult to obtain. Several examples are discussed with attenti on focused on ammonia as a test case for hydrogen bond systems, and xe non for weaker van der Waals clusters. A brief overview of application s to investigating solvation effects on reactions and structures, dela yed electron transfer and ionization through intracluster Penning ioni zation, is also given.