Ultraslow isomerization in photoexcited gas-phase carbon cluster $${{\rm C}}_{10}^ -$$ C 10 -

K. Saha (), V. Chandrasekaran, O. Heber (), M. A. Iron, M. L. Rappaport and D. Zajfman
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K. Saha: Weizmann Institute of Science
V. Chandrasekaran: Weizmann Institute of Science
O. Heber: Weizmann Institute of Science
M. A. Iron: Weizmann Institute of Science
M. L. Rappaport: Weizmann Institute of Science
D. Zajfman: Weizmann Institute of Science

Nature Communications, 2018, vol. 9, issue 1, 1-9

Abstract: Abstract Isomerization and carbon chemistry in the gas phase are key processes in many scientific studies. Here we report on the isomerization process from linear $${{\rm C}}_{10}^ -$$ C 10 - to its monocyclic isomer. $${{\rm C}}_{10}^ -$$ C 10 - ions were trapped in an electrostatic ion beam trap and then excited with a laser pulse of precise energy. The neutral products formed upon photoexcitation were measured as a function of time after the laser pulse. It was found using a statistical model that, although the system is excited above its isomerization barrier energy, the actual isomerization from linear to monocyclic conformation takes place on a very long time scale of up to hundreds of microseconds. This finding may indicate a general phenomenon that can affect the interstellar medium chemistry of large molecule formation as well as other gas phase processes.

Date: 2018
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-03197-w

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