Attachment to SF6of electrons bound in Rydberg atoms, autodetachment and dissociation of SF6

Abstract

Argon atoms in Rydberg states are used as a source of nearly zero energy electrons for studying the creation of negative ions in sulphur hexafluoride. The temperature dependence of the probabilities of autodetachment and dissociation are measured. It is shown that atoms in Rydberg state provide good definition of the electron energy, but that the influence of the ionic core, which leads to the stabilisation of the SF₆^- ion, cannot be neglected.