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Intermolecular Coulomb Decay - Posted at 9:54 AM on Jan. 22, 2010 by ausetute
Intermolecular Coulomb Decay is the process in which two adjacent molecules work together to achieve autoionisation.

Autoionization results when radiation is absorbed by a molecule and some of this energy is used to ionize the molecule by releasing an electron.  The rest of the energy remains stored in the ion which causes another electron to be released a few femtoseconds later, that is, the molecular ion ionizes itself.

In the process of Intermolecular Coulomb Decay the molecular ion produced by the absorption of radiation transfers its excess energy to a second molecule which then releases an electron of its own. This transfer of energy does not result in the formation of a chemical bond.

Intermolecular Coulomb Decay has been observed in frozen rare gases and has now been demonstrated as a possible process in water.

Mucke et al. A hitherto unrecognized source of low-energy electrons in water. Nature Physics, 2010; DOI: 10.1038/nphys1500
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