Journal of Physics B Atomic Molecular and Optical Physics
Measurement of the electron affinity of praseodymium
V. T. Davis, J. S. Thompson
Abstract
The electron affinity (EA) of praseodymium (Pr) has been measured using laser photodetachment electron spectroscopy. The EA of Pr( 4 I 9/2 ) was determined to be 0.962±0.024 eV. The data also show that Pr - has at least one bound excited state with a binding energy of 0.866±0.018 eV relative to the ground state of the Pr atom. The present experimental measurements are compared to a recent calculation of the electronic structure of Pr - .