STATE-SELECTED RYDBERG ELECTRON-ATTACHMENT TO SULFUR-HEXAFLUORIDE CLUSTERS AT DIFFERENT COLLISION ENERGIES

Rate constants for negative-ion formation have been measured for the e lectron transfer reactions between state-selected Rydberg atoms and su lfur hexafluoride clusters at various collision energies. At low value s of the principal quantum number of the Rydberg atoms, post-attachmen t interactions not only lead to Coulombic complex formation and intern al to translational energy exchange, but also to a new effect which co rresponds to an evaporative process due to the influence of the positi ve atomic core upon the negative clusters.