Fig. 2
From: Ultraslow isomerization in photoexcited gas-phase carbon cluster \({{\rm C}}_{10}^ -\)
Neutralized \({{\rm C}}_{10}^ -\) counts as a function of trapping time. Ions were trapped and a laser pulse of 2.85 eV photons was admitted ~190 ms afterwards. Trapping was stopped after 250 ms and the cycle repeated. The data shown is from ~105 such trapping cycles. The high number of counts during the first few milliseconds is due to spontaneous electron emission from the vibrationally and rotationally hot \({{\rm C}}_{10}^ -\). During this time, \({{\rm C}}_{10}^ -\) also undergoes radiative cooling and spontaneous electron emission stops. The neutral counts after this time are due to loss of an electron upon collision of the trapped ions with the residual gas. The counts after 250 ms are due to MCP noise. The peak at ~190 ms is produced by neutrals formed due to delayed detachment of electrons. The inset shows an enlargement of this peak, which clearly depicts formation of neutrals with significant delay relative to the laser interaction time
