Journal of Physics B Atomic Molecular and Optical Physics
An experimental investigation of the atomic europium anion
V. T. Davis, J. S. Thompson
Abstract
The electron affinity (EA) of europium has been measured using laser photodetachment electron spectroscopy. The EA of Eu(8S7/2) was determined to be 1.053 ± 0.025 eV. The data also show that Eu− has at least one bound excited state with binding energy of 0.864 ± 0.024 eV relative to the ground state of the europium atom. The experimental results are consistent with recent EA measurements of lanthanide atoms whose anions are predicted to have [Xe](4fn 6p) (where n is odd) configurations.