Signature of cluster isomers in time-resolved photodissociation experiments

The unrecognized presence of structure isomers in mass-selected cluster ensembles may obstruct investigations of the systems' intrinsic properties. since isomers differ not only in geometry, but also in other important properties. By the same token isomers are very interesting objects in the detailed study of atomic clusters. In the present work, different scenarios of isomeric coexistence are presented. They vary in the relative values of the interconversion barrier and the dissociation energies. For some idealized cases the possibility of a distinction of isomers by photodissociation experiments is discussed. In favorable situations isomeric structures may even be selected. (C) 2004 Published by Elsevier B.V.