Eur. Phys. J. D 59, 389-398 (2010)
https://doi.org/10.1140/epjd/e2010-00170-0

Stabilizing dicyanoacetylene anions in planetary atmospheres: quantum dynamics of its transient negative ions

Department of Chemistry and CNISM, University of Rome `La Sapienza', Piazzale A. Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy

Corresponding author: ^a fa.gianturco@caspur.it

Received: 23 March 2010
Revised: 6 May 2010
Published online: 2 July 2010

Abstract

Quantum computations that follow the electron-attachment process at low energies (<10 eV) to the NCCCCN gaseous molecule are carried out in order to understand the role of transient negative ions (TNIs) which act as “doorway states" to molecular stabilization and/or fragmentation after resonant attachment of an environmental electron. The computed behaviour of the found TNIs suggests that an NCCCCN^*- intermediate could be formed under conditions which justify and explain the existence of stable carbonaceous anions in the interstellar medium, while further anionic fragments of the title molecule, already seen in laboratory experiments, are also identified by the present calculations.