Laser photodetachment of NO2−

Abstract
An absolute apparent cross section for the photodetachment of nitrite (NO2) ions has been measured in the region (2.0–2.7) eV utilizing a tunable dye laser as the light source. The electron affinity of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) has been determined to be (2.36±0.10) eV. Photodetachment of an ion thought to be a peroxy isomer of NO2 has also been observed.