Time evolution of very high Rydberg states of large aromatic molecules. A kinetic analysis

A long (microseconds) and shorter ( 1 μs) decay channel are resolved in the time evolution of very high Rydberg states of large aromatic molecules. A simple kinetic analysis is presented and applied to the very detailed results available for tetracene. It is concluded that under our experimental conditions the time evolution is due to intramolecular processes. The various possible decay channels are discussed.     

Synchrotron radiation induced photoionization and photodissociation of carbon monoxide in the 14–35 eV region

Carbon monoxide has been excited with monochromatic synchrotron radiation in the 14–35 eV range using the Swedish synchrotron facility MAX in Lund. The decay products were studied in various detection channels such as formed CO⁺ and C⁺ ions using mass spectroscopy and visible or VUV fluorescence using photon detection. A rich line structure is observed which is attributed to CO Rydberg series converging to theX,A,B,D,C andE states in CO⁺. While a great number of these lines are already known, some of them are classified here for the first time. The combination of information from the fluorescence spectra and the mass spectra contribute important information concerning the autoionization and predissociation of these various Rydberg series.     

The proton formation from methane by dissociative ionization in the electron energy range of 25–40 eV

The proton formation by dissociative electroionization of methane has been investigated in the energy range of 25–40 eV. The kinetic energy-versus-appearance energy shows five different H⁺ producing processes respectively at 26.3 ± 0.2 eV, 26.9 ± 0.2 eV, 29.4 ± 0.3 eV, 32.7 ± 0.2 eV and 35.7 ± 0.5 eV. These critical energies are discussed in terms of different dissociation channels probably opened through predissociation of doubly excited states of CH⁺₄. On the high energy side of the electron energy range investigated in the present work, the proton would appear through the dissociation of the CH⁺ ion as an intermediate.     

Imaging the Dissociation Dynamics of Si2+ via Two-Photon Excitation at 193 nm

In the one-color experiment at 193 nm, we studied the photodissociation of Si₂⁺ ions prepared by two-photon ionization using the time-sliced ion velocity map imaging method. The Si⁺ imaging study shows that Si₂⁺ dissociation results in two distinct channels: Si(³P_g)+Si⁺(²P_u) and Si(¹D₂)+Si⁺(²P_u). The main channel Si(³P_g)+Si⁺(²P_u)) is produced by the dissociation of the Si₂⁺ ions in more than one energetically available excited electronic state, which are from the ionization of Si₂(v=0-5). Particularly, the dissociation from the vibrationally excited Si₂(v=1) shows the strongest signal. In contrast, the minor Si(¹D₂)+Si⁺(²P_u) channel is due to an avoided crossing between the two 2²Π_g states in the same symmetry. It has also been observed the one-photon dissociation of Si₂⁺(X⁴Σ_g^-) into Si(1D2)+Si+(2Pu) products with a large kinetic energy release.     

A seemingly well understood light-induced peroxide decarboxylation reaction reinvestigated with femtosecond time resolution

The photoinduced (266 nm) ultrafast decarboxylation of the peroxyester tert-butyl 9-methylfluorene-9-percarboxylate (TBFC) in solution has been studied with femtosecond time resolution. While the photodissociation of TBFC occurs too fast to be resolved, the intermediate 9-methylfluorenylcarbonyloxy radical (MeFl-CO(2)) decarboxylates on a picosecond time scale. The latter process is monitored by pump-probe absorption spectroscopy at wavelengths between 400 and 883 nm. The measured transient absorbance signals reveal a dominant fast decay with a lifetime of a few picoseconds and, to a minor extent, a slow component with a lifetime of about 55 ps. Statistical modeling of MeFl-CO(2) decarboxylation employing molecular parameters calculated by density functional theory suggests that the fast component is associated with the decarboxylation of vibrationally hot radicals, whereas the 55 ps decay reflects the dissociation of thermally equilibrated MeFl-CO(2) at ambient temperature. The vast majority of MeFl-CO(2) radicals thus decarboxylate on a time scale about an order of magnitude faster than expected from the time constant of 55 ps reported by Falvey and Schuster for this reference reaction. This literature value turns out to refer to decarboxylation rate of MeFl-CO(2) at ambient temperature.     

Translational energy distribution of the excited hydrogen atom produced by controlled electron impact on HCl

The translational energy distribution of an atom can be calculated by differentiating the Doppler line shape of its emission line taken at a high optical resolution. The Balmer-β line of the excited hydrogen atom (n = 4) produced by electron impact on HCl has been measured at a high resolution (0.033Å) and at two angles (55° and 90°) with respect to the electron beam. The translation energy distribution depends on the electron energies and has almost two groups of components: ≈ 5 eV (fast) and ≈ eV (slow). Anisotropy is imporant for the slow component. The excitation function shows the corresponding structures. It is concluded that Rydberg states converging to the ²Π state of HCl⁺ produce the fast component and Rydberg states converging to the repulsive HCl⁺ states which cross the ²Σ⁺ state produce the slow component.     

Dissociative ionisation of CS2 and the formation of S2+

Photoelectron–photoion coincidence spectroscopy has been used to examine dissociative ionisation of CS₂ from electronic states of CS₂⁺ up to 27 eV, including the satellite states 3, 4, 6 and 10 whose decay has not been studied before. Branching ratios to the ions S⁺, CS⁺, S₂⁺ and C⁺ have been determined throughout the range and kinetic energy release distributions have been deduced from peak shapes, allowing inferences on the states of the fragments. The choice of product channel is not strongly dependent on initial parent ion state identity. The products are formed in many different final states, but kinetic energy releases less than 3 eV are favoured, corresponding to formation of highly excited states of the products. In confirmation, optical emission has been found in coincidence with photoelectrons from formation of several inner valence states of the ions. Formation of S₂⁺ occurs from several initial states of the parent ion and possible mechanisms are considered. It is concluded that a “quasi-statistical” model may best describe the dissociation of CS₂⁺ from the inner valence states.     

Collision complex formation in the low-energy dynamics of the C+ + O2 reaction

A crossed beam study of CO⁺ production from the C⁺ + O₂ reaction at a collision energy of 0.57 eV is presented. Very clear collision complex dynamics are observed which are shown to be consistent with the decay of a transient complex having a lifetime of approximately 0.5 ps. An analysis of the reactive scattering using an adiabatic state correlation diagram indicates that the formation of X-state CO₂⁺ by insertion of C⁺ into the O₂ bond is accessible from the reagents and correlates adiabatically with ground-state products. The average kinetic energy release is approximately 23% of the available energy. A comparison of the present data with the chemiluminescent studies of A-state production of CO⁺ indicates that the dominant channels at low energies are production of ground-state CO⁺ through the X²Π_g and a⁴Π_u state of CO₂⁺.     

Electronic autoionization in carbon monoxide: the effects of the vibrational motion

New continuous measurements of the vibrationally resolved photoionization cross sections of CO⁺ X ²Σ⁺ and A ²Π between 63 and 83 nm are reported. We assign the Rydberg series converging to CO⁺ A ²Π. The effects of the vibrational motion are interpreted on the basis of the Condon approximation. This approximation is shown to allow a qualitative understanding of the decay of the Rydberg series converging to the A ²Π and B ²Σ⁺ states of CO⁺.     

Unimolecular dissociations of excited C3H6O+: A comparative photoelectron—photoion coincidence study of 1,2-epoxypropane and acetone

The unimolecular fragmentation of internal energy selected 1,2-epoxypropane cations has been studied by fixed-wavelength photoelectron—photoion coincidence spectroscopy. Branching ratios for the prominent fragment ions are reported up to an ionization energy of I = 14 eV. It is shown that 1,2-epoxypropane cations initially formed with none or only little vibrational excitation in the electronic ground state do not dissociate, though their excess energy with respect to the lowest energetic fragmentation pathway is 1.25 eV. As the internal energy is increased, slow fragmentation into several dissociation channels is observed. This is used to explain a comparably slow dissociation process observed in the case of acetone molecular ions initially excited to their electronic à state. CH₂C(OH)CH₃⁺ and/or CH₃CHCHOH⁺ are proposed as precursors for these low-rate unimolecular reactions.     

飞秒时间分辨的光电子影像对3-甲基吡啶分子超快动力学研究

利用飞秒时间分辨的光电子影像技术结合时间分辨的质谱技术,研究了3-甲基吡啶分子激发态的超快过程. 实时观察到了3-甲基吡啶分子S₂态向S₁态高振动能级的超快内转换过程,该内转换的时间大约为910fs. 二次布居的S₁态主要通过内转换衰减到基态S₀,该内转换的时间尺度为2.77 ps. 光电子能谱分布和光电子角分布显示,S₂态和S₁态在电离的过程中跟3p里德堡态发生偶然共振. 本次实验中还用400 nm两个光子吸收的方法布居了3-甲基吡啶的3s 里德堡态. 研究表明,3s 里德堡态的寿命为62 fs,并主要通过内转换快速衰减到基态.     

Dissociative electron attachment to polyatomic molecules: Ion kinetic energy measurements

Dissociative electron attachment to SO₂, NO₂, NF₃ and H₂O₂ is studied in terms of the kinetic energies of the dominant fragment ions. The O^? data from SO₂ show that the two major resonances at 4.6 and 7.2 eV respectively have the same dissociation limit. Similarly, the resonances at 1.8 and 3.5 eV in the O^? channel in NO₂ appear to have same dissociation limit of NO (X ²Π) + O^?, while the resonance at 8.5 eV appears to dissociate to give NO (a ⁴Π_i) along with O^?. We find considerable internal excitation of the neutral fragments in all these cases along with that of NF₃, whereas the negative ion resonance in H₂O₂ appears to fragment almost like a diatomic system with very little internal excitation of the OH and OH^? fragments.     

HOD分子在(~C)1B1态的光解动力学:产物OH/OD的分支比以及OD键解离能

Photodissociation of jet-cooled HOD via the ? state around 124 nm has been studied using the H(D)-atom Rydberg tagging time-of-flight technique. Rotational state resolved action spectrum and the product translational energy distribution spectra have been recorded for both D+OH and H+OD dissociation channels. Product channel OH/OD branching ratios for the individual ?- X rotational transition have been determined. A comparison is also given with the B- X and ?- X transitions. In addition, the dissociation energy of the OD bond in HOD has been determined accurately to be 41751.3±5 cm^-1.     

Electronic spectroscopy and ultrafast energy relaxation pathways in the lowest Rydberg States of trimethylamine

Resonance-enhanced multiphoton ionization photoelectron spectroscopy has been applied to study the electronic spectroscopy and relaxation pathways among the 3p and 3s Rydberg states of trimethylamine. The experiments used femtosecond and picosecond duration laser pulses at wavelengths of 416, 266, and 208 nm and employed two-photon and three-photon ionization schemes. The binding energy of the 3s Rydberg state was found to be 3.087 +/- 0.005 eV. The degenerate 3p x, y states have binding energies of 2.251 +/- 0.005 eV, and 3p z is at 2.204 +/- 0.005 eV. Using picosecond and femtosecond time-resolved experiments we spectrally and temporally resolved an intricate sequence of energy relaxation pathways leading from the 3p states to the 3s state. With excitation at 5.96 eV, trimethylamine is found to decay from the 3p z state to 3p x, y in 539 fs. The decay to 3s from all the 3p states takes place with a 2.9 ps time constant. On these time scales, trimethylamine does not fragment at the given internal energies, which range from 0.42 to 1.54 eV depending on the excitation wavelength and electronic state.     

Primary photophysical and photochemical processes for Pt(SCN)<Subscript>6</Subscript><Superscript>2–</Superscript> complex

Photosolvation of a Pt^IV hexathiocyanate complex Pt(SCN)₆ ^2– in water and ethanol was studied by steady-state photolysis, nanosecond laser flash photolysis, and ultrafast kinetic spectroscopy. Complexes Pt(SCN)₅(H₂O)^– and Pt(SCN)₅(C₂H₅OH)^– were found to be the only reaction products. The quantum yields of photosolvation are independent of the excitation wavelength, being equal to 0.25 and 0.5 for the solutions of the complex in water and ethanol, respectively. Photosolvation proceeds by the mechanism of heterolytic metal—ligand bond dissociation without involvement of redox processes. The characteristic time of formation of the end products for both solvents is about 10 ps. Three successive intermediates detected on the picosecond time scale were interpreted as Pt^IV complexes. The nature of the intermediates and possible mechanisms of photosolvation are discussed.     

Collisional dissociation of CH2Br+2 in selected internal energy states

The collisionally induced dissociation of CH₂Br⁺₂ to yield CH₂Br⁺ + Br has been investigated by photoelectronphotoion coincedence spectroscopy in which nominally zero kinetic electrons were detected. The reactant CH₂Br⁺₂ ions were produced by photoionzation with intenal energies of 0.0, 0.20 and 0.60 eV. For all three internal energies, the kinetic energy threshold for dissociation is just equal to the energy defect.     

Communication: atomic and molecular Rydbergs from water

We report the formation of energetic neutral Rydberg hydrogen atoms and transient Rydberg molecular ions, [(H(2)O)(q+)](?) in ion-impact dissociation of isolated water molecules. The kinetic energy spectra of the neutral Rydberg H atoms are determined from the complete study of (H(?), H(+), O(+)) dissociation channel. This channel of water dissociation is suggested as a possible additional source of the energetic neutrals detected in upper atmospheres of extra solar planets, and of slow electrons which are known to play a major role in radiation induced damage to living cells.     

Pathway competition of H+ in intense femtosecond laser fields

We experimentally measured the kinetic energy and angular distributions of fragment ion H⁺ of H₂ as a function of 810 nm femtosecond laser intensity by using velocity map imaging technique. The reasonable origination of dissociation channels (1.0) and (1.1) are proposed. The analysis of the angular distribution indicates the net two-photon pathway via the 3ω crossing dominates over the direct one-photon pathway in channel (1.0). The relative yield of fragment peaks indicates that dissociation and ionization of H ₂ ⁺ are competitive. The lower laser intensities emphasize the dissociation probability of H ₂ ⁺ , and the higher laser intensities favor higher ionization stages.     

Photodissociation of CH2I2 and Subsequent Electron Transfer in Solution

We studied photoinduced reactions of diiodomethane (CH₂I₂) upon excitation at 268 nm in acetonitrile and hexane by subpicosecond–nanosecond transient absorption spectroscopy. The transient spectra involve two absorption bands centered at around 400 (intense) and 540 nm (weak). The transients probed over the range 340–740 nm show common time profiles consisting of a fast rise (<200 fs), a fast decay (≈500 fs), and a slow rise. The two fast components were independent of solute concentration, whereas the slow rise became faster (7–50 ps) when the concentration in both solutions was increased. We assigned the fast components to the generation of a CH₂I radical by direct dissociation of the photoexcited CH₂I₂ and its disappearance by subsequent primary geminate recombination. The concentration‐dependent slow rise produced the absorption bands centered at 400 and 540 nm. The former consists of different time‐dependent bands at 385 and 430 nm. The band near 430 nm grew first and was assigned to a charge‐transfer (CT) complex, CH₂I₂^δ+???I^δ?, formed by a photofragment I atom and the solute CH₂I₂ molecule. The CT complex is followed by full electron transfer, which then develops the band of the ion pair CH₂I₂⁺???I^? at 385 nm on the picosecond timescale. On the nanosecond scale, I₃^? was generated after decay of the ion pair. The reaction scheme and kinetics were elucidated by the time‐resolved absorption spectra and the reaction rate equations. We ascribed concentration‐dependent dynamics to the CT‐complex formation in pre‐existing aggregates of CH₂I₂ and analyzed how solutes are aggregated at a given bulk concentration by evaluating a relative local concentration. Whereas the local concentration in hexane monotonically increased as a function of the bulk concentration, that in acetonitrile gradually became saturated. The number of CH₂I₂ molecules that can participate in CT‐complex formation has an upper limit that depends on the size of aggregation or spatial restriction in the neighboring region of the initially photoexcited CH₂I₂. Such conditions were achieved at lower concentrations in acetonitrile than in hexane.     

Experimental and theoretical study on the photoionization of styrene

This study employed a vacuum ultraviolet synchrotron radiation source and reflectron time-of-flight mass spectrometry (TOF-MS) to investigate the photoionization and dissociation of styrene. By analyzing the photoionization mass spectrum and efficiency curve alongside G3B3 theoretical calculations, we determined the ionization energy of the molecular ion, appearance energy of fragment ions, and relevant dissociation pathways. The major ion peaks observed in the photoionization mass spectra of styrene correspond to C₈H₈⁺, C₈H₇⁺ and C₆H₆⁺. The ionization energy of styrene is measured as 8.46 ± 0.03 eV, whereas the appearance energies of C₈H₇⁺ and C₆H₆⁺ are found to be 12.42 ± 0.03 and 12.22 ± 0.03 eV, respectively, in agreement with theoretical values. The main channel for the photodissociation of styrene molecular ions is the formation of benzene ions, whereas the dissociation channel that loses hydrogen atoms is the secondary channel. Based on the experimental results and empirical formulas, the required dissociation energies (E_d) of C₈H₇⁺, C₈H₆⁺ and C₆H₆⁺ are calculated to be (3.96 ± 0.06), (4.00 ± 0.06) and (3.76 ± 0.06) eV, respectively. Combined with related thermochemical parameters, the standard enthalpies of formations of C₈H₈⁺, C₈H₇⁺, C₈H₆⁺ and C₆H₆⁺ are determined to be 964.2, 1346.3, 1350.2 and 1327.0 kJ/mol, respectively. Based on the theoretical study, the kinetic factors controlling the styrene dissociation reaction process are determined by using the Rice–Ramsperger–Kassel–Marcus (RRKM) theory. This provides a reference for further research on the atmospheric photooxidation reaction mechanism of styrene in atmospheric and interstellar environments.