Ionization of Na(3P) atoms by collisions with vibrationally excited nitrogen molecules in crossed molecular beams

A crossed molecular beam experiment is described in which the rate of ionization of Na(3P) atoms in collision with vibrationally excited N₂ molecul has been measured as a function of the N₂ temperature up to 3050 K. The activation energy in the experiment appears to be close to the ionization energy of the 3P level. An ionization cross section of about 100 »A² (excluding the activation energy factor) is derived with the help of a theoretical model. The limitations of the experiments as well as of the model are discussed.     

Contribution of liquid-phase and gas-phase ionization in extractive electrospray ionization mass spectrometry of primary amines

In this study, we investigated how binary mixtures of compounds influence each other's signal intensity in electrospray ionization (ESI), extractive electrospray ionization (EESI) and secondary electrospray ionization (SESI) experiments. The experiments were conducted using a series of homologous primary amines (from 1-butyl to 1- decylamine). In every experiment, two of the amines were present, and all 21 possible combinations were measured with EESI, ESI and SESI as ionization sources. Except for the volatility, which decreases with increasing molecular weight, the physico-chemical properties of the amines are very similar, so that the intensity ratio obtained in each experiment provides information about discrimination effects occurring during the ionization process. The results show that for the relatively volatile compounds investigated, the EESI ionization mechanism resembles the SESI-like gas-phase charge transfer more than ESI-like analyte ionization in solution. In addition, almost no discrimination effects were observed in the spectra obtained in EESI experiments. Quantitative EESI experiments with nonylamine as internal standard showed that EESI is capable of providing both more accurate and more precise results than SESI and ESI.     

Calculation of the valence shell correlation effects on ionization potentials. A test on N2, C2N2 and H2NN

Two schemes for the definition of the valence space from an extended basis are proposed and tested for the calculation of ionic states in N₂, C₂N₂ and H₂NN. Good results are obtained with a projection scheme, leading to a 2h-1v model reproducing the essential features of the full basis 2h-1p results. Notably excellent agreement with experiment is obtained for the main ionization potentials in N₂ and C₂N₂. Unsatisfactory results are instead given by a simple extension of the minimal basis set SCF space, indicating the importance of employing accurate occupied orbitals as a starting point.     

Electron-impact ionization of the metastable Mg(...2p63s3p3P0,2) atoms

Electron-impact ionization of Mg atoms from metastable states was investigated. The method and tech-nique of crossed atomic and electron beam studies are described. The value of the total ionization cross section from the 3s3p ³P_j metastable states for 4... 21 eV incident electron energy was determined. It was found that ionization cross sections from the metastable and ground states differ considerably. This is mainly due to the different mechanisms of ion formation from the metastable and ground states. The results obtained are compared with those calculated in the classical mechanics binary approximation.     

Yield of kinetic atomic ion from N2 induced by soft X-Ray absorption

Photodisso ciative ionization of N₂ has been studied in the region of N-K absorption edge, using a time-of-flight mass-spectrometric technique. The energy dependence of the branching ratios to different ions is measured. Kinetic energies of the N⁺ are obtained from the TOF spectra by a simulation calculation. The dissociation processes are discussed on the basis of these kinetic energies, and of highly excited states of the molecular ion.     

A theoretical photoelectron spectrum of cyanogen by a Green-function method

A Green-function method is used to calculate a photoelectron spectrum of C₂N₂ including the vibrational structure. The calculated spectrum and the experimental spectrum are in good agreement. It is found that the second band is due to ionization of the 5a_g electron. In addition predictions are made concerning the ionization potentials and vibrational structure of low lying bands which have not yet been measured. The ionization potentials obtained in the different orders of the perturbation expansion of the self-energy part are discussed as well as the influence of many-body effects on the vibrational coupling constants.     

Coincidence studies of fluorescence and dissociation processes in electronic excited states of I2+, Br2+, IBr+ and ICl+

The PIFCO technique in which mass-selected photoion—fluorescence photon coincidences are counted, was used to investigate whether I₂⁺, IBr⁺ and ICl⁺ fluoresce. Measurements were made of lifetimes and fluorescence quantum yields of electronic excited states of these ions. Emission was discovered for I₂⁺ and IBr⁺, but ICl⁺ apparently does not fluoresce. Information on the radiative properties of Br₂⁺ was obtained as a by-product of the work on IBr⁺. Fragment ion kinetic energy releases were determined and provide information on dissociative ionization processes in the halogen and interhalogen ions studied.     

A Reflectron Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometer with a Nano-Electrospray Ionization Source for Study of Metal Cluster Compounds

An experiment facility has been set up for the study of metal cluster compounds in our laboratory, which consists of a nano-electrospray ionization source, an ion transmission and focus system, and a reflectron time-of-flight mass spectrometer. Taking advantage of the nano-electrospray ionization source, polyvalent ions are usually produced in the “ionization” process and the obtained mass resolution of the equipment is over 8000. The molecular ion peaks of metal cluster compounds [Au₂₀(PPhpy₂)₁₀Cl₂](SbF₆)₄, where PPhpy₂=bis(2-pyridyl)phenylphosphine, and [Au₆Ag₂(C)L₆](BF₄)₄, where L=2-(diphenylphosphino)-5-methylpyridine, are distinguished in the respective mass spectrum, accompanied by some fragment ion peaks. In addition, the mass-to-charge ratios of the parent ions are determi-nated. Preliminary results suggest that the device is a powerful tool for the study of metal cluster compounds. It turns out that the information obtained by the instrumentation serves as an essential supplement to single crystal X-ray diffraction for structure characterization of metal cluster compounds.     

Latest Findings on the Photoionization of Met-Cars

An overview of our latest findings on the photoionization of metallocarbohedrene clusters (Met-Cars) is presented. The ionization potentials (IPs) of titanium and zirconium Met-Cars of the stoichiometry Ti_8–x Zr _x C₁₂ (x=0–4, 8) were determined by studying their photoionization efficiency spectra near threshold. It was found that the IPs are about 4 eV and decrease smoothly as the Ti/Zr ratio decreases. Comparison of the determined IPs with those predicted by theoretical calculations by other groups suggests that the geometry of the Met-Cars is that of the tetrahedral cage structure with T _d symmetry, assuming a high degree of accuracy in the IP calculations. In another experiment, we investigated the mechanism of the delayed ionization of both single- and binary-metal Met-Cars. Using a reflectron time-of-flight mass spectrometer with a modified Wiley–McLaren double acceleration region, we measured ionization rates arising from the electron emission of Met-Cars composed of various transition metals under different photoionization conditions, which led to the conclusion that a thermionic emission mechanism dominantly contributes to the delayed ionization.     

A Colorful Investigation of a Diprotic Acid: A General Chemistry Laboratory Exercise

A general chemistry laboratory experiment that can be completed in a single laboratory period is described that familiarizes students with the acid—base chemistry of a diprotic acid and with the use of visible spectroscopy to determine species concentrations. This experiment is a modified version of a previously described laboratory exercise developed for an upper-division quantitative analysis course. Students work in teams and as a class to generate different ionization states of various highly absorbing dyes. Both spectroscopic and potentiometric (pH) data is collected using LabWorks II stations, but other inexpensive pH meters and visible spectrometers (e.g., Spec 20s) are suitable. A spreadsheet template is used to determine the percent composition of various ionization states of a diprotic acid and to determine the pK_a values. Besides introducing students to fundamental tools and key chemical concepts, this laboratory is also inexpensive to operate and utilizes nontoxic, colorful solutions.     

AuX (X=O,S)低电子态的理论研究

通常要用多参考态方法才能合理处理需考虑旋轨耦合（SOC）效应的开壳层分子如AuO和AuS的低电子态. 事实上,通过选取合适的参考态,采用运动方程耦合簇方法（EOM-CC）也能计算这些分子的一些低电子态,而且EOM-CC方法是单参考态方法,使用起来比多参考态方法更加简单. 本文采用最近发展的含旋轨耦合的EOM-CC 计算电离能的方法（EOMIP-CC）,选取对应的负离子为参考态,在CCSD 级别上计算了AuO 和AuS低电子态的性质. 在不考虑旋轨耦合时,通过比较EOMIP-CCSD和EOMIP-CCSDT的结果考察EOMIPCCSD的精度. 此外,与EOMIP-CCSDT结果相比,如果自旋污染较为显著而且T₁的模较大时,UCCSD（T）方法对能量最低的某一特定对称性的电子态的所对应的电离能误差约为0.1-0.15 eV. 在考虑了旋轨耦合效应后,我们的方法得到的键长和振动频率与实验值吻合较好. 另一方面,虽然EOMIP-SOC-CCSD高估了能量较高的²Δ_3/2态、²Σ_1/2⁺态和²Π_1/2态的能量,但是对于其它能量更低的电子态,它们的能量与已有实验值误差在0.2 eV 左右. 这显示我们所用的含SOC的EOMIP-CCSD方法对原本需要用多参考态方法才能处理的AuO和AuS低电子态能给出可靠的结果.     

Comparison between positive and negative charging of helium droplets

Helium droplets of approximately 10⁴–10⁸ atoms have been produced in free jet expansions of liquid helium through a 5 μm nozzle into vacuum. The size distributions of the positively and negatively charged droplets were measured as a function of the electron emission current. A simple model has been developed to describe the charging process and formulas for production of singly and doubly charged droplets were derived. The ratio of the ionization cross section to the geometrical cross section and its dependence on N was obtained. In the experiment single negatively and positively charged droplets were observed. Only for sizes N larger than a certain threshold size N _th ≈ 2 × 10⁵ the positively charged droplets were found to be doubly ionized. These observations are in good agreement with the assumption, that the positively charge carriers are stable “snowballs” while the negative droplets contain an excess electron located in the inside within a metastably bound “bubble”. The threshold size N _th corresponds to a simple model in which for smaller droplets a positively charged cluster of about 50 atoms is ejected.     

二乙胺分子的多光子电离："梯转换"过程

The multiphoton ionization (MPI) of diethylamine is first reported in this paper. A time-of-flight mass spectrometer was used in the experiment under collision-free condition. MPI mass spectra were measured in the region of 464 ～486 nm using a dye laser and at double frequency of a Nd:YAG laser. Molecular ion was created through resonance enhanced multiphoton ionization (REMPI) via Rydberg states. Fragment, ion distribution was formed through “ladder switching” process. The experimental demonstration of the process is reported for the first time by the discussion of dependence of ion relative, abundance on laser wavelength and energy. The competition between further up-pumping and fragmentation of Parent ion also exists, and higher laser intensity favors the former.     

Molecular states formed by ion beam neutralization of [C2H2]+ and [C2H3]+ on metal targets

A combination of charge-stripping and beam-scattering techniques has been used to study the molecular states formed when a fast beam of [C₂H₂]⁺ and [C₂H₃]⁺ in several isotopic forms are neutralized by electron transfer from metal target atoms (K, Na, Mg and Zn). For [C₂H₃]⁺ the isotopic compositions and relative abundances of product states were found to be insensitive to the method of ion preparation (electron impact and chemical ionization). Ground state neutrals are formed in partial abundance when Mg or Zn is used as a target atom. With low ionization potential targets (K and Na) excitel dissociative states of C₂H₂ and C₂H₃ are formed as major beam constituents. For these states decomposition products have been identified and fragmentation energies measured. The excited states of C₂H₂ and C₂H₃ lie alout 6.8 eV and 2.9 eV, respectively, above their stable ground states. The discussion focuses on the possible identity of the excited states and their structural relations to the precursor ions.     

Molecular Structure, Vibrational Spectrum and Ionization Energy of m-Dimethoxybenzene

The optimized molecular geometries of the three rotamers of m-dimethoxybenzene in the ground So and electronically excited Sl states were predicted by ab initio and density functional theory （DFF） calculations. Their vibrational spectra in the St state were studied by one color resonant two photon ionization （1C-R2PI） method, and their ionization energies were measured by two color resonant two photon ionization （2C-R2PI） experiment. The optimized molecular geometries showed that the total energy of conformer a was the lowest in the So state. Most of the active vibrations assigned from the 1C-R2PI spectrum were found to be of the in-plane ring modes. The ionization energies （IE） of conformers a, b and c were determined to be 63521, 64487 and 63755 cm^-1, respectively.     

Experimental and theoretical binding energy spectra and momentum distributions for the valence orbitals of H2O

The binding energy spectra (10–46 eV) and momentum distributions of the valence orbitals of H₂O have been measured using a new high-sensitivity binary (e,2e) electron spectrometer employing position-sensitive detectors. The binding energy spectrum shows a previously unreported feature at = 27 eV which is shown to be associated with the (2a₁)^?1 ionization process. The region between 25 and 46 eV is compared with previous (e,2e) and X-ray photoelectron measurements as well as with several existing and new many-body calculations indicating a splitting of the 2a₁ ionization pole strength. In addition the separate momentum distributions of the three outer valence orbitals of H₂O have been obtained from deconvoluted binding energy spectra run at a series of azimuthal angles. The results, which show considerably improved signal-to-noise ratio over earlier measurements using single-channel instrumentation are compared with spherically averaged momentum distributions calculated with a variety of wavefunctions.     

Ionization dynamics of van-der-Waals clusters

The ionization process of homogeneous and heterogeneous van-der-Waals clusters has been investigated using various ionization methods (electron bombardment, charge exchange, photoionization methods), and different analyzing techniques. Direct and indirect ionization processes can be distinguished in the experiments from the shape of the ionization curve which depends on the type of cluster. These features appear differently in homogeneous and heterogeneous systems: Homogeneous systems exhibit characteristic ionization efficiency curves where the direct ionization path appears as a sudden increase in the ionization efficiency while the indirect transition gives rise to a long drawn out tail extending to the true ionization threshold. In heterogeneous clusters the indirect ionization path proceeds via excited states of the component with the larger ionization potential and subsequent energy transfer to the other component. These transitions are shifted and broadened depending on the type of internal interaction. Conclusions are drawn concerning the geometry and the interaction potential inside the cluster. The resolution of the TEPICO (Threshold Electron Photo Ion Coincidence) experiments makes it possible to determine the kinetic energy release of the fragments. It is shown that the results are related to the stabilities of the cluster ions involved in the fragmentation chain. Results are presented for pure rare gas clusters (Ar _n , Kr _n , Xe _n ) and for mixed systems (Ar _n O_2m , Ar _n Xe, Kr _n Xe, (CH₄) _n Ne).     

Ab initio calculations on urea

Multiconfiguration wave functions constructed from contracted Gaussian-lobe functions have been found for the ground and valence-excited states of urea. ICSCF molecular orbitals of the excited states were used as the parent configurations for the CI calculations except for the ¹A₁(π → π*) state. The ¹A₁(π → π*) state used as its parent configuration an orthogonal linear combination of natural orbitals obtained from the second root of a three-configuration SCF calculation. The lowest excited states are predicted to be the n π → π* and π → π* triplet states. The lowest singlet state is predicted to be the n π → π* state with an energy in good agreement with the one known UV band at 7.2 eV. The π → π* singlet state is predicted to be about 1.9 eV higher, contrary to several previous assignments which assumed the lowest band was a π → π* amide resonance band. The predicted ionization energy of 9.0 eV makes this and higher states autoionizing.     

Photodissociation Dynamics of 2-Iodotoluene Investigated by Femtosecond Time-Resolved Mass Spectrometry

The photodissociation dynamics of 2-iodotoluene following excitation at 266 nm have been investigated employing femtosecond time-resolved mass spectrometry. The photofragments are detected by multiphoton ionization using an intense laser field centered at 800 nm. A dissociation time of 38±50 fs was measured from the rising time of the co-fragments of toluene radical (C₇H₇) and iodine atom (I), which is attributed to the averaged time needed for the C-I bond breaking for the simultaneously excited nσ^* and ππ^* states by 266 nm pump light. In addition, a probe light centered at 298.23 nm corresponding to resonance wavelength of ground-state iodine atom is used to selectively ionize ground-state iodine atoms generated from the dissociation of initially populated nσ^* and ππ^* states. And a rise time of 40±50 fs is extracted from the fitting of time-dependent I⁺ transient, which is in agreement with the dissociation time obtained by multiphoton ionization with 800 nm, suggesting that the main dissociative products are ground-state iodine atoms.     

Two-color multiphoton ionization of diazabicyclooctane in a supersonic free jet

Two-color multiphoton ionization (MPI) spectroscopy has been applied for diazabicyclooctane (DABCO) in a supersonic free jet. The MPI spectra due to transitions from the various vibronic levels of the S₁ (3s Rydberg) state which were excited by the first laser revealed the high Rydberg states above the adiabatic ionization potential. The ionization process and the vibrational potential of the ion are discussed.