Abstract

The interaction of metal atoms with polar molecules plays an important role in understanding elementary chemical reactions in the liquid phase. We have chosen sodium-ammonia-clusters as model system to study this interaction in great detail. In our previous spectroscopic investigations it was found that the 3s → 3p transition of the sodium atom is shifted from the visible to near IR spectral range only four ammonia molecules are bound to the sodium atom [1]. In addition, these experiments revealed that the excited state of sodium-ammonia complexes is short lived.

© 1998 IEEE