In a collaboration with the group of Andreas Unterreiner we carry out experiments in which we seek to determine the lifetimes and decay channels of electronically excited molecular anions under isolated conditions. Specifically, we use femtosecond time-resolved pump-probe photoelectron spectroscopy to obtain such information for mass selected ions electrosprayed from solution. Recent studies have included probes of the photodissociation dynamics of transition metal halide dianions. Presently, we are interested in electron tunneling autodetachment processes after optical excitation - for organic chromophore systems with long-lived excited states which would normally fluoresce in condensed phase.  

"Photodissociation dynamics of IrBr₆ dianions by time-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy", Christian Rensing, Oli T. Ehrler, Ji-Ping Yang, Andreas-Neil Unterreiner and Manfred M. Kappes, J. Chem. Phys., 2009, 130, 234306.