Photodetachment studies of the lithium negative ion

An experimental investigation has been made of the structure of the negative ion of lithium and of the manner in which this ion interacts with electromagnetic radiation. The photodetachment experiments were performed on a crossed laser-negative ion beam apparatus. Energy- and angle-resolved spectroscopic measurements of the kinetic energies and yields of detached photoelectrons provided the basic data necessary to determine the electron affinity of the lithium atom, asymmetry parameters characterizing photoelectron angular distributions, and photodetachment (and radiative attachment) cross sections. Comparisons with theory have been made wherever possible.