High resolution study of photoionization processes in O2

Bond dissociation energy of O2 measured by fully state-to-state resolved threshold fragment yield spectra

We have determined the bond dissociation energy of O2 by measuring fully state-to-state resolved threshold fragment yield spectra in the XUV energy region, O2X3Σg-,N″,J″→O(PJ3)+O(S1o3)/O(S2o5). Our results have yielded a bond dissociation energy value of 41 269.19 ± 0.10 cm-1, which is consistent with previous measurements but exhibits a significantly lower uncertainty, approximately five times smaller. It is noteworthy that this study is the first to simultaneously achieve fine structure state resolution for the parent O2 molecule and spin-orbit state resolution for the O(3PJ) fragments in the measurement of O2 bond dissociation energy. As a result, our findings have established a solid foundation for the obtained data.

Significantly Improved Detection of Molecular Oxygen by Two-Color Resonance-Enhanced Multiphoton Ionization

We report a new spectroscopic detection scheme for molecular oxygen that achieves roughly two orders of magnitude higher sensitivity for fully rotationally resolved spectra than the current state of the art. Two-color (2 + 1') resonance-enhanced multiphoton ionization (REMPI) via the 3d Rydberg complex yields state-selective spectra with signal comparable to the intense but diffuse C 3sσ 3Πg ← X 3Σg- (2 + 1) REMPI bands without significant saturation or broadening. The resulting increase in sensitivity permitted observation of the very weak 3dπ 1Δ2 ← X 3Σg- transitions and is independent of the intermediate state. This advance in ionization efficiency and quantum state-selective sensitivity for O2 promises to aid physical and chemical studies across a wide variety of fields.

SO2 Photodissociation at 193 nm Directly Forms S(3P) + O2(3Σg-): Implications for the Archean Atmosphere on Earth

It is well-documented that photodissociation of SO₂ at λ = 193 nm produces O(³P_j) + SO X(³Σ^-). We provide experimental evidence of a new product channel from one-photon absorption producing S(³P_j) + O₂ X(³Σ_g^-) in 2-4% yield. We probe the reactant and all products with time-resolved photoelectron photoion coincidence spectroscopy. High-level ab initio calculations suggest that the new product channel can only occur on the ground-state potential energy surface through internal conversion from the excited state, followed by isomerization to a transient SOO intermediate. Classical trajectories on the ground-state potential energy surface with random initial conditions qualitatively reproduce the experimental yields. This unexpected photodissociation pathway may help reconcile discrepancies in sulfur mass-independent fractionation mechanisms in Earth's geologic history, which shape our understanding of the Archean atmosphere and the Great Oxygenation Event in Earth's evolution.

A new endstation for extreme-ultraviolet spectroscopy of free clusters and nanodroplets

In this work, we present a new endstation for the AMOLine of the ASTRID2 synchrotron at Aarhus University, which combines a cluster and nanodroplet beam source with a velocity map imaging and time-of-flight spectrometer for coincidence imaging spectroscopy. Extreme-ultraviolet spectroscopy of free nanoparticles is a powerful tool for studying the photophysics and photochemistry of resonantly excited or ionized nanometer-sized condensed-phase systems. Here, we demonstrate this capability by performing photoelectron-photoion coincidence experiments with pure and doped superfluid helium nanodroplets. Different doping options and beam sources provide a versatile platform to generate various van der Waals clusters as well as He nanodroplets. We present a detailed characterization of the new setup and show examples of its use for measuring high-resolution yield spectra of charged particles, time-of-flight ion mass spectra, anion-cation coincidence spectra, multi-coincidence electron spectra, and angular distributions. A particular focus of the research with this new endstation is on intermolecular charge and energy-transfer processes in heterogeneous nanosystems induced by valence-shell excitation and ionization.

Distinguishing resonance symmetries with energy-resolved photoion angular distributions from ion-pair formation in O2 following two-photon absorption of a 9.3 eV femtosecond pulse

We present a combined experimental and theoretical study on the photodissociation dynamics of ion-pair formation in O₂ following resonant two-photon absorption of a 9.3 eV femtosecond pulse, where the resulting O⁺ ions are detected using 3D momentum imaging. Ion-pair formation states of Σg-3 and ³Π_g symmetry are accessed through predissociation of optically dark continuum Rydberg states converging to the B Σg-2 ionic state, which are resonantly populated via a mixture of both parallel-parallel and parallel-perpendicular two-photon transitions. This mixture is evident in the angular distribution of the dissociation relative to the light polarization and varies with the kinetic energy release (KER) of the fragmenting ion pair. The KER-dependent photoion angular distribution reveals the underlying two-photon absorption dynamics involved in the ion-pair production mechanism and indicates the existence of two nearly degenerate continuum resonances possessing different symmetries, which can decay by coupling to ion-pair states of the same total symmetry through internal conversion.

Symmetry of molecular Rydberg states revealed by XUV transient absorption spectroscopy

Transient absorption spectroscopy is utilized extensively for measurements of bound- and quasibound-state dynamics of atoms and molecules. The extension of this technique into the extreme ultraviolet (XUV) region with attosecond pulses has the potential to attain unprecedented time resolution. Here we apply this technique to aligned-in-space molecules. The XUV pulses are much shorter than the time during which the molecules remain aligned, typically \documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$$<$$\end{document}<100 fs. However, transient absorption is not an instantaneous probe, because long-lived coherences re-emit for picoseconds to nanoseconds. Due to dephasing of the rotational wavepacket, it is not clear if these coherences will be evident in the absorption spectrum, and whether the properties of the initial excitations will be preserved. We studied Rydberg states of N\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$${}_{2}$$\end{document}2 and O\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$${}_{2}$$\end{document}2 from 12 to 23 eV. We were able to determine the polarization direction of the electronic transitions, and hence identify the symmetry of the final states.

Transient absorption spectroscopy is used to identify the structural characteristics of the atoms and molecules. Here the authors used extreme ultraviolet transient absorption spectroscopy to identify the Rydberg state symmetry of aligned molecules.

Resonant photoionization of O2 up to the fourth ionization threshold

We present a detailed theoretical study of valence-shell photoionization of the oxygen molecule by using the recently proposed XCHEM method. This method makes use of a hybrid Gaussian and B-spline basis in the framework of a close-coupling approach to describe electron correlation in the molecular electronic continuum at a level comparable to that provided by multi-reference configuration interaction methods in bound state calculations. The computed total and partial photoionization cross sections are presented and discussed, with emphasis on the series of autoionizing resonances that appear between the first and the fourth ionization thresholds, i.e., photon energies between 12 and 18 eV. More than fifty autoionizing states are identified, including series not previously reported in the literature, and their energy positions and widths are provided. The present results illustrate the potential of the XCHEM approach to accurately describe molecular autoionization, which is mostly due to electron correlation. This is relevant in view of current experimental efforts aimed at providing real-time (attosecond) imaging of autoionization dynamics in molecules.

Dissociation dynamics of transient anion formed via electron attachment to sulfur dioxide

We report the molecular dynamics of dissociative electron attachment to sulfur dioxide (SO₂) by measuring the momentum distribution of fragment anions using the velocity slice imaging technique in the electron energy range of 2-10 eV. The S^- channel results from symmetric dissociation which exhibits competition between the stretch mode and bending mode of vibration in the excited parent anion. The asymmetric dissociation of parent anions leads to the production of O^- and SO^- channels where the corresponding neutral fragments are formed in their ground as well as excited electronic states. We also identify that internal excitation of SO^- is responsible for its low yield at higher electron energies.

Dipolar dissociation dynamics in electron collisions with carbon monoxide

Dipolar dissociation processes in the electron collisions with carbon monoxide have been studied using time of flight (TOF) mass spectroscopy in combination with the highly differential velocity slice imaging (VSI) technique. By probing ion-pair states, both positive and/or negative ions may be detected. The ion yield curve of negative ions provides the threshold energy for the ion-pair production. On the other hand, the kinetic energy distributions and angular distributions of the fragment anion provide detailed dynamics of the dipolar dissociation process. Two ion-pair states have been identified based on angular distribution measurements using the VSI technique.

An Evaluation of Gas Phase Enthalpies of Formation for Hydrogen-Oxygen (HxOy) Species

We have compiled gas phase enthalpies of formation for nine hydrogen-oxygen species (HxOy) and selected recommended values for H, O, OH, H2O, HO2, H2O2, O3, HO3, and H2O3. The compilation consists of values derived from experimental measurements, quantum chemical calculations, and prior evaluations. This work updates the recommended values in the NIST-JANAF (1985) and Gurvich et al. (1989) thermochemical tables for seven species. For two species, HO3 and H2O3 (important in atmospheric chemistry) and not found in prior thermochemical evaluations, we also provide supplementary data consisting of molecular geometries, vibrational frequencies, and torsional potentials which can be used to compute thermochemical functions. For all species, we also provide supplementary data consisting of zero point energies, vibrational frequencies, and ion reaction energetics.

Ion-pair dissociation dynamics of O2 in the range 17.2-17.5 eV studied by XUV laser and velocity map imaging method

The ion-pair dissociation dynamics of O2, O2 + hv → O(+)((4)S) + O(-)((2)P(1/2, 3/2)), in the photon energy range 17.20-17.50 eV has been studied using extreme ultraviolet laser and velocity map imaging method. The ion-pair yield spectrum and the fine structure resolved photofragment O(-)((2)P(j)) velocity map images have been recorded. The branching ratios between the two spin-orbit components O(-)((2)P(3/2)) and O(-)((2)P(1/2)) and the corresponding anisotropy parameters describing their angular distributions have been determined. It is found that the fragments O(-)((2)P(1/2)) are all from parallel transitions, while the fragments O(-)((2)P(3/2)) are from both parallel and perpendicular transitions. The main products for most of the excitation photon energies are O(-)((2)P(1/2)). The dissociation dynamics has been discussed based on the ab initio potential energy curves of the ion-pairs. The major peaks in the ion-pair yield spectrum have been assigned based on the angular distribution of the photofragments. The experimental results suggest that the so-called strong and weak series of Rydberg states converging to O2(+)b(4)Σg(-) should have symmetries of (3)Σu(-) and (3)Πu, respectively. In addition to the Rydberg states converging to O2(+)b(4)Σg(-), the Rydberg states converging to O2(+)A(2)Πu should also play a role in the ion-pair dissociation of O2.

Vacuum ultraviolet negative photoion spectroscopy of chloroform

Negative ions Cl(-), Cl(2)(-), CCl(-), CHCl(-), and CCl(2)(-) are observed in vacuum-ultraviolet ion-pair photodissociations of chloroform (CCl(3)H) using the Hefei synchrotron radiation facility, and their ion production efficiency curves are recorded in the photon energy range of 10.00-21.50 eV. Two similar spectra of the isotope anions (35)Cl(-) and (37)Cl(-) indicate the following: Besides the strong bands corresponding to the electron transitions from valence to Rydberg orbitals converging to the ionic states, some additional peaks can be assigned with the energetically accessible multibody fragmentations; a distinct peak at photon energy 14.55 eV may be due to a cascade process (namely, the Cl(2) neutral fragment at the highly excited state D'2(3)Π(g) may be produced in the photodissociation of CCl(3)H, and then the Cl(-) anions are produced in the pulsed-field induced ion-pair dissociations of Cl(2) (D'2(3)Π(g))); two vibrational excitation progressions, nν(2)(+) and nν(2)(+) + ν(3)(+), and nν(4)(+) and nν(4)(+) + ν(2)(+), are observed around C̃ (2)E and D̃ (2)E ionic states, respectively. The enthalpies of the multibody fragmentations to Cl(2)(-), CCl(-), CHCl(-), and CCl(2)(-) are calculated with the thermochemistry data available in the literature, and these multibody ion-pair dissociation pathways are tentatively assigned in the respective anion production spectra.

Ion-pair dissociation dynamics of H2S in the photon energy range 15.26-15.55 eV

The H(+) velocity map images from the ion-pair dissociation of H(2)S + hν → SH(-)(X(1)Σ(+), υ = 0, 1) + H(+) have been measured at the excitation energies 15.259, 15.395, and 15.547 eV, respectively. The experimental results show that most of the available energies are transformed into the translational energies. The angular distributions of the fragments SH(-)(X(1)Σ(+), υ = 0) indicate that the dissociation occurs via pure parallel transition with limiting anisotropy parameter of +2. Because the ion-pair dissociation usually occurs via the predissociation of Rydberg states, this suggests that the ion cores of the excited Rydberg states have linear geometries. The geometries and electronic structures of the linear H(2)S(+) have been calculated employing the quantum chemistry calculation method at the CASPT2/avqz level. The electronic structures for the ion-pair states have been calculated at the CASSCF/avtz level, which indicates that the equilibrium geometries of the ion-pair states have bent geometries.

Direct mapping of recoil in the ion-pair dissociation of molecular oxygen by a femtosecond depletion method

Time-resolved dynamics of the photodissociation of molecular oxygen, O(2), via the (3)Sigma(u) (-) ion-pair state have been studied with femtosecond time resolution using a pump-probe scheme in combination with velocity map imaging of the resulting O(+) and O(-) ions. The fourth harmonic of a femtosecond titanium-sapphire (Ti:sapphire) laser (lambda approximately 205 nm) was found to cause three-photon pumping of O(2) to a level at 18.1 eV. The parallel character of the observed O(+) and O(-) images allowed us to conclude that dissociation takes place on the (3)Sigma(u) (-) ion-pair state. The 815 nm fundamental of the Ti:sapphire laser used as probe was found to cause two-photon electron photodetachment starting from the O(2) ion-pair state, giving rise to (O((3)P)+O(+)((4)S)) products. This was revealed by the observed depletion of the yield of the O(-) anion and the appearance of a new O(+) cation signal with a kinetic energy E(transl)(O(+)) dependent on the time delay between the pump and probe lasers. This time-delay dependence of the dissociation dynamics on the ion-pair state has also been simulated, and the experimental and simulated results coincide very well over the experimental delay-time interval from about 130 fs to 20 ps where two- or one-photon photodetachment takes place, corresponding to a change in the R(O(+),O(-)) interatomic distance from 12 to about 900 A. This is one of the first implementations of a depletion scheme in femtosecond pump-probe experiments which could prove to be quite versatile and applicable to many femtosecond time-scale experiments.

Cationic and Anionic Fragmentation of Dichloromethane following Inner-Shell (Cl 1s) Photoexcitation

The cationic and anionic fragmentation of dichloromethane (CH2Cl2) molecule have been investigated in the energy range of the Cl K shell by using synchrotron radiation, ion yield spectroscopy, and electron-ion coincidence spectroscopy. Total and partial ion-yield and mass spectra have been recorded as a function of the photon energy. We were able to identify several singly and multiply charged cationic fragments and the following anionic species: H-; C-; Cl-. The present results provide the first experimental report of negative ion formation from a molecule excited at the Cl 1s edge. In addition, our electron-ion coincidence data provide strong evidence of the preservation of molecular alignment for the photodissociation of CH2Cl2 after deep core-electron resonant excitation.

ION PAIR DISSOCIATION: Spectroscopy and Dynamics

Ion pair dissociation processes may be studied using coherent vacuum ultraviolet laser sources in a manner entirely analogous to photoelectron spectroscopy, albeit with the anion playing the role of a heavy electron. If the excitation energy is above the dissociation energy and the kinetic energy of the fragment is measured using ion imaging, this approach is termed ion pair imaging spectroscopy (IPIS) and is related to conventional photoelectron spectroscopy. If the excitation energy is just below the dissociation energy and pulsed-field dissociation is employed, this approach is analogous to mass analyzed threshold ionization (MATI) spectroscopy and is termed threshold ion pair production spectroscopy (TIPPS). These approaches provide a novel means of investigating ion thermochemistry and spectroscopy and superexcited state decay dynamics at high resolution.

Velocity map imaging study of the O2 ion-pair production at 17.499 eV: simultaneous parallel and perpendicular transitions

The fine structure resolved photofragment O(-)((2)P(j)) image from the O(2) ion-pair production at 17.499 eV has been recorded. The branching ratio for producing the low energy spin-orbit O(-)((2)P(3/2)) component to the high energy spin-orbit O(-)((2)P(1/2)) component is 1:0.78 and the optical transitions for them correspond to perpendicular and parallel transitions, respectively. The anisotropy parameters, 1.64 for channel producing O(-)((2)P(1/2)) and -0.35 for O(-)((2)P(3/2)), suggest that the dissociation proceeds via the states with symmetry (3)Sigma(u)(-) and (3)Pi(u), respectively. Although the main mechanisms for the O(2) ion-pair production are the predissociation via the intermediate Rydberg states, the direct dissociation mechanism for the channel producing O(-)((2)P(1/2)) may also be involved.