New results on photoion pair formation from application of the velocity imaging photoionisation coincidence technique

The velocity imaging photoionisation coincidence (VIPCO) technique is shown to be a powerful tool for studies of ion pair formation. Sequential mechanisms are demonstrated for some three-body ion pair formation reactions. Observation of a new type of reaction producing one negatively and two positively charged ions plus an electron is reported.     

Double photoionisation spectra of small molecules and a new empirical rule for double ionisation energies

Complete double photoelectron spectra are presented for 18 small molecules where the location of charges in the cations and dications is relatively clearly defined. The data demonstrate the importance of a coulombic repulsion contribution to the double ionisation energies. Examination of data for a wide range of molecules leads to a new empirical rule to calculate double ionisation energies from the molecules’ single ionisation energies and maximum dimensions. Where single and double ionisation energies are known the rule allows the deduction of plausible intercharge distances.     

Valence double ionization of O2 at photon energies below and above the molecular double ionization threshold

A recently developed time-of-flight photoelectron-photoelectron coincidence spectroscopy technique, which gives complete two-dimensional e(-)-e(-) spectra in single photon double ionization, is applied to molecular oxygen at photon energies below and above the adiabatic double ionization threshold of O(2). Analysis of the two-dimensional coincidence maps reveals specific indirect pathways for the double ionization process. Dissociative ionization paths with subsequent autoionization of atomic oxygen are found to be the dominant processes for all chosen photon energies. Spectra of the photoelectrons coincident with the autoionization electrons show that intermediate O(2)(+) states are involved which do not autoionize to molecular O(2)(2+). In particular, the ground state of O(2)(2+) is vibrationally resolved and shows a regular progression which can be well described by direct Franck-Condon transitions at an internuclear distance R(e)(X (1)Sigma(g)(+))=1.054 A. Quantum yields of double ionization for O(2), of a form discussed in this paper, are determined.     

Immobilizing a Fluorescent Dye Offers Potential to Investigate the Glass/Resin Interface

Silane coupling agents are commonly applied to glass fibers to promote fiber/resin adhesion and enhance durability in composite parts. In this study, a coupling agent multilayer on glass was doped with trace levels of the dimethylaminonitrostilbene (DMANS) fluorophore. The fluorophore was immobilized on the glass surface by tethering the molecule to a triethoxy silane coupling agent, creating the DMANS/silane coupling agent molecule (DMSCA). DMSCA was then diluted with commonly used coupling agents and grafted to a glass microscope coverslip to create a model composite interface. A 53-nm blue shift in fluorescence from the immobilized DMSCA can be followed during cure of an epoxy resin overlayer, giving this technique potential to monitor the properties of the fiber/resin interface during composite processing. Contact angle measurements on these coupling agent layers were similar in the presence or absence of the DMSCA molecule, suggesting that trace levels of the fluorescent probe did not affect the structure of the layer. The immobilized DMSCA molecule behaved similarly to the DMANS precursor in solution. Both showed longer wavelength fluorescence in more polar environments. Copyright 2000 Academic Press.     

The predissociations of water ions

Experimental relative abundances of D₂O⁺, OD⁺ and D⁺ ions are given as functions of the initial energy of D₂O⁺ ions in the B?²B₂ state. The D⁺ ions are more abundant than expected on the basis of a recent theoretical model. Less kinetic energy is released in D⁺ formation than in OD⁺ formation, for the same excess energy available. It is suggested that OD⁺ formation should be modelled as a statistical reaction, whereas D⁺ formation is more specific. No detailed model can be suggested on present evidence, but it is pointed out that H₂O⁺ (B?²B₂) can be predissociated to OH⁺ by the X? state to H⁺ by the à state, as well as by repulsive states.     

A theoretical and experimental study of the SO2(2+) dication

The double photoionization spectrum of SO2 has been measured using the TOF-PEPECO technique and contains one resolved band. Detailed electronic structure calculations and experimental comparisons allow the resolved band to be identified as the A 1A2 state of the SO2(2+) dication, with its adiabatic ionization energy at 35.284+/-0.02 eV. According to the most accurate calculations, the ground state level of SO2(2+) must be located near 33.48 eV, well below the range accessed by vertical transitions from neutral SO2. Transient SO2 (2+) molecules detected by mass spectrometry may be identified either as the sharp levels of the A 1A2 state or as ground state levels populated by nonvertical ionization pathways.