Abstract
The photodetachment of a triatomic negative ion is studied and the detached-electron wave function is obtained as a superposition of coherent waves originating from each atom of the system. The photodetached electron flux is evaluated on a screen placed at a large distance from the system, which displays strong interferences. A simple analytical formula is also obtained for the total photodetachment cross section. The formula approaches one time the cross sections for the one-center and two-center systems in the high photon energy limits. Also it approaches three times the cross section for one-center system in the low photon energy limits.