Electronically metastable molecules of high symmetry

In this research, we studied of the metastable electronic states of small molecules such as tritium. Our goal was to obtain precise information on the origin of metastability in molecular systems of high symmetry and on structural, spectroscopic, and dynamic properties of such species. The research was performed in two experimental setups, both using fast neutral molecular beams that we form by charge transfer of an electron from a suitable donar gas to a mass selected ion. In one set of experiments we illuminate the neutral species by using laser light and detect the appearance of photoions so that we can study photoionization events. In the other we photodissociate the molecule and detect the neutral photofragments by using a position- and time-sensitive detector. This study focused on photodissociation and photoionization processes of triatomic hydrogen. A detailed account of the results obtained on triatomic hydrogen is given below. We also obtained new experimental data on the metastable species of Diatomic hydrogen, Diatomic Helium, Hydronium, and D3O.