Radiative cooling of hot Cn− and CnH− molecules

Abstract

SynopsisWe have measured the rates of neutrals produced from 10 keV Cn− or CnH− (n=2, 4, 6, 8, and 10) ion beams stored in one of DESIREE's 14 K storage rings. For n=4, 6, and 8 we observe marked differences between Cn− and CnH− cooling rates as inverse internal conversion [cf. S. Martin et al (2013) Phys. Rev. Lett. 110, 063003] processes are effective for the Cn− ions only. Knowledge of the cooling rates of these ions are important for estimates of their formation and destruction rates in cold interstellar environments.