Photodissociation of CO3 (-) (dot) H2O: Observation of the O (-) (dot) H2O + CO2 product channel. (Reannouncement with new availability information)

The importance of molecular negative ions and ionic clusters in ionospheric chemistry has prompted numerous laboratory studies over the past decade. Besides providing chemical and physical data necessary for atmospheric modeling, these studies also report on the thermochemistry, kinetics, and spectroscopy of various species. Work done on the CO3- ion and its weakly bound clusters is a case in point. CO3- is believed to be a dominant ion in the mesosphere and is found throughout other regions of the earth`s atmosphere. Hydrates of CO3- have also been detected and are found to exhibit similar photophysical characteristics to CO3-. Photodissociation experiments have proven valuable in the study of such weakly bound negative ions and ionic clusters.