Multi-body fragmentation of polyatomic molecules following ionization by intense laser pulses
POSTER
Abstract
Intense laser pulses that multiply ionize polyatomic molecules often create unstable molecular ions that can fragment in complex ways. Coincidence momentum imaging of the ionic products reveals the fragmentation dynamics, including whether the process is concerted or sequential. These processes are distinguished using the native frames analysis method. For example, in both formic acid (HCOOD3+ → D+ + O+ + HCO+) and ethanol (CH3CH2OH2+ → H3+ + C2H2O+ + H), different sequential processes lead to the same final products. We identified several examples of hydrogen elimination as the first fragmentation step, such as eliminating both hydrogen atoms from HCOOD2+, forming a long-lived CO22+ intermediate. In other cases, however, we find that eliminating a neutral is the final step stabilizing the intermediate ion, e.g. CH3CH2OH2+ → H3+ + CH3+ + CO.
*Augustana University personnel are supported by NSF grant PHYS-2309192. J.R. Macdonald Laboratory personnel and equipment are supported by U.S. Department of Energy grant #DE-FG02-86ER13491.
Presenters
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Eric Wells
- Augustana University