Study of the dissociation of neutral intermediates using charge inversion mass spectrometry

In charge inversion experiments using a tandem mass spectrometer, mass-sele cted positive ions are made to collide with an alkali metal target, and the resulting negative ions formed upon two-electron transfer are mass-analyze d. The internal energy depositions are measured for the so-called thermomet er molecule W(CO)(6). The difference between the centered value of the inte rnal energy of W(CO)(6) and the energy level of the precursor ion is in goo d agreement with the ionization energy of the Cs target. This correlation i ndicates that dissociation occurs from energy-selected neutrals formed via near-resonant neutralization. (C) 2000 American Institute of Physics. [S002 1-9606(00)00619-X].