Near-Threshold Photodetachment Cross Section of (SF6)(n)(-) Cluster Anions: The Ion Core Structure.

Photodetachment cross sections as a function of photon energy are measured for cold (SF6)n(-) cluster anions stored in an electrostatic ion beam trap. Absolute photodetachment cross sections near the adiabatic limit are reported. The strong dependence of the SF6(-) absolute photodetachment cross section on the anion equilibrium bond length leads to the conclusion that the excess charge is localized on a SF6(-) ion core that is only subtly perturbed by the neighboring cluster units.