![Sample our Physical Sciences journals, sign in here to start your FREE access for 14 days]({"type":"image" , "src" : "/sda/110819/TOC-Subject-Sample-2021-Physical-Sciences.jpg"})
Abstract
Recent advances in the gas phase vibrational spectroscopy of mass-selected ions are described, highlighting experiments on hydrogen-bonded (HBed) clusters relevant to atmospheric chemistry. The use of cryogenic ion traps in combination with the widely tunable and intense radiation from infrared free electron lasers has allowed for new molecular-level insights into the structure and other properties of HBed clusters. Advances and challenges in the interpretation of their vibrational action spectra, in particular, the importance of considering anharmonic effects, are described and discussed. The advantages of isomer-specific measurements relying exclusively on excitations within the vibrational manifold are also evaluated. The article concludes with an outlook on future challenges and perspectives.
Acknowledgements
We gratefully acknowledge the contributions from all authors of the original papers that are highlighted in this review, especially Daniel M. Neumark, Tara Yacovitch, Gerard Meijer, Torsten Wende and Ling Jiang. We thank the Stichting voor Fundamenteel Onderzoek der Materie (FOM) for granting the required beam time and greatly appreciate the skill and assistance of the FELIX staff. This research was funded by the Max-Planck-Society, the German Research Foundation within the Collaborative Research Center 546 and European Community’s Seventh Framework Program (FP7/2007-2013, Grant 226716).