Prediction of the existence of the N2H− molecular anion

International audienceWe predict the existence of the N2H− anion from first principle calculations. We present the threedimensional potential energy surface and the bound states of the N2H−/D− van derWaals anion. The electronic calculations were performed using state-of-the-art ab initio methods and the nuclear motions were solved using a quantum close-coupling scattering theory. A T-shaped equilibrium structure was found, with a well depth of 349.1 cm−1, where 18 bound states have been located for N2H− and 25 for N2D− for total angular momentum J = 0. We also present the absorption spectra of the N2H− complex. This anion could be formed after low energy collisions between N2 and H− through radiative association. The importance of this prediction in astrophysics and the possible use of N2H− as a tracer of N2 and H− in the interstellar medium is discussed