Superinelastic electron transfer:: Electron trapping in H2O ice via the N2-(2Πg) resonance -: art. no. 147601

We present measurements on the trapping of 0-3 eV electrons in H2O ice films covered with a submonolayer of N-2 molecules. At the energy of the N-2(-)((2)Pi(g)) shape resonance, the absolute cross section for electron trapping in ice is similar to5.5 x 10(-16) cm(2), similar to that for vibrational excitations of gaseous N-2 via the resonance. This result, indicating that nearly all electrons from autoionization of N-2(-)((2)Pi(g)) are transferred to electron traps in ice, is explained by superinelastic electron transfer from N-2(-)((2)Pi(g)) into preexisting traps in polar ice, leaving N-2 in high vibrational excited states.