Photoelectron imaging following 2 + 1 multiphoton excitation of HBr

The photodissociation and photoionization dynamics of HBr via low-n Rydberg and ion-pair states was studied by using 2 + 1 REMPI spectroscopy and velocity map imaging of photoelectrons. Two-photon excitation at about 9.4-10 eV was used to prepare rotationally selected excited states. Following absorption of the third photon the unperturbed F (1)Delta(2) and i (3)Delta(2) states ionize directly into the ground vibrational state of the molecular ion according to the Franck-Condon principle and upon preservation of the ion core. In case of the V (1)Sigma(+)(0(+)) ion-pair state and the perturbed E (1)Sigma(+)(0(+)), g (3)Sigma(-)(0(+)), and H (1)Sigma(+)(0(+)) Rydberg states the absorption of the third photon additionally results in a long vibrational progression of HBr(+) in the X (2)Pi state as well as formation of electronically excited atomic photofragments. The vibrational excitation of the molecular ion is explained by autoionization of repulsive superexcited states into the ground state of the molecular ion. In contrast to HCl, the perturbed Rydberg states of HBr show strong participation of the direct ionization process, with ionic core preservation.     

State-to-state inelastic scattering of OH by HI: a comparison with OH-HCl and OH-HBr

Relative state-to-state cross sections and steric asymmetries have been measured for the scattering process: OH (X (2)Pi(32),v=0,J=32,M(J)=32,f)+HI ((1)Sigma,v=0,J<4)-->OH (X (2)Pi,v=0,Omega=12,J=12-52 and Omega=32,J=32-92,ef)+HI, at 690 cm(-1) collision energy. Comparison with the previously studied systems OH-HCl and OH-HBr reveals relevant features of the potential energy surfaces of these molecular systems. Some measured differences concerning the internal energy distribution after collision and the propensities for the impact with one or the other side of the OH molecule in scattering by HCl, HBr, and HI molecules are discussed.     

Superexcited state reconstruction of HCl using photoelectron and photoion imaging

The velocity-map imaging technique was used to record photoelectron and photofragment ion images of HCl following two-photon excitation of the E Sigma(+)(0+), V 1Sigma(+)(0+) (nu=9,10,11) states and subsequent ionization. The images allowed us to determine the branching ratios between autoionization and dissociation channels for the different intermediate states. These branching ratios can be explained on the basis of intermediate state electron configurations, since the configuration largely prohibits direct ionization in a one-electron process, and competition between autoionization and dissociation into H* (n=2)+Cl and H+Cl*(4s,4p,3d) is observed. From a fit to the vibrationally resolved photoelectron spectrum of HCl+ it is apparent that a single superexcited state acts as a gateway to autoionization and dissociation into H+Cl*(4s). Potential reconstruction of the superexcited state to autoionization was undertaken and from a comparison of different autoionization models it appears most likely that the gateway state is a purely repulsive and low-n Rydberg state with a (4Pi) ion core.     

Photodissociation dynamics of N2O at 130 nm: the N2(A 3Sigmau +,B 3Pig)+O(3PJ = 2,1,0) channels

Oxygen Rydberg time-of-flight spectroscopy was used to study the vacuum ultraviolet photodissociation dynamics of N(2)O near 130 nm. The O((3)P(J)) products were tagged by excitation to high-n Rydberg levels and subsequently field ionized at a detector. In agreement with previous work, we find that O((3)P(J)) formation following excitation to the repulsive N(2)O D((1)Sigma(+)) state produces the first two electronically excited states of the N(2) counterfragment, N(2)(A (3)Sigma(u) (+)) and N(2)(B (3)Pi(g)). The O((3)P(J)) translational energy distribution reveals that the overall branching ratio between N(2)(A (3)Sigma(u) (+)) and N(2)(B (3)Pi(g)) formation is approximately 1.0:1.0 for J = 1 and 2, with slightly less N(2)(B (3)Pi(g)) produced in coincidence with O((3)P(0)). The angular distributions were found to be independent of J and highly anisotropic, with beta = 1.5+/-0.2.     

Rotationally inelastic scattering of OH (2Pi 3/2, v=0, J=3/2, f) by HBr (1Sigma, v=0, J<4)

Relative state-to-state cross sections of OH molecules in the (2)Pi(32), v=0, J=32, M(J)=32, f state have been determined for transitions up to (2)Pi(32), v=0, J=112, f and (2)Pi(12), v=0, J=72, e states by collisions with HBr molecules ((1)Sigma, v=0, J<4) at 750 cm(-1) collision energy. In order to investigate features of the anisotropy of the OH-HBr potential energy surface, the steric asymmetries, which account for the effect of the OH orientation with respect to the collision partner, have been measured. A comparison with other systems previously studied shows strong similarities with the OH-HCl system.     

Photoionization and photodissociation of HCl(B 1Sigma+, J=0) near 236 and 239 nm using three-dimensional ion imaging

The electronically excited states HCl(*)(E,upsilon(')=0,J(')=0) and HCl(*)(V,upsilon(')=12,J(')=0) have been prepared by two-photon resonant absorption of ground state HCl via Q(0) transitions at 238.719 and at 236.000 nm, respectively. The consequent one-or two-photon excitation at the same wavelength results in the production of H(+), Cl(+), and HCl(+) ions. The speed distributions and anisotropy parameters beta for these ions have been determined by three-dimensional photo-fragment ion imaging based on a position-sensitive delay-line anode assembly. Several results are presented: first, we measured velocity (speed and angle) distributions for HCl(+) due to the electron recoil in the photoionization of HCl(*). Such distributions give information on the photoionization process and on the vibrational distribution of HCl(+) after the laser pulse. Second, the measured beta parameters for Cl(+) and H(+) distributions give information on the symmetries of the upper states in the one-photon photoexcitation of HCl(*). Third, the measured speed distributions for H(+) help to understand the mechanism of the photodissociation of HCl(+) ions.     

Product spin-orbit state resolved dynamics of the H+H2O and H+D2O abstraction reactions

The product state-resolved dynamics of the reactions H+H(2)O/D(2)O-->OH/OD((2)Pi(Omega);v',N',f )+H(2)/HD have been explored at center-of-mass collision energies around 1.2, 1.4, and 2.5 eV. The experiments employ pulsed laser photolysis coupled with polarized Doppler-resolved laser induced fluorescence detection of the OH/OD radical products. The populations in the OH spin-orbit states at a collision energy of 1.2 eV have been determined for the H+H(2)O reaction, and for low rotational levels they are shown to deviate from the statistical limit. For the H+D(2)O reaction at the highest collision energy studied the OD((2)Pi(3/2),v'=0,N'=1,A') angular distributions show scattering over a wide range of angles with a preference towards the forward direction. The kinetic energy release distributions obtained at 2.5 eV also indicate that the HD coproducts are born with significantly more internal excitation than at 1.4 eV. The OD((2)Pi(3/2),v'=0,N'=1,A') angular and kinetic energy release distributions are almost identical to those of their spin-orbit excited OD((2)Pi(1/2),v'=0,N'=1,A') counterpart. The data are compared with previous experimental measurements at similar collision energies, and with the results of previously published quasiclassical trajectory and quantum mechanical calculations employing the most recently developed potential energy surface. Product OH/OD spin-orbit effects in the reaction are discussed with reference to simple models.     

Rovibrational-state-selected pulsed field ionization-photoelectron study of methyl iodide using two-color infrared-vacuum ultraviolet lasers

The preparation of methyl iodide (CH(3)I) in selected rovibrational states [nu(7)=1 (C-H stretch); J] by infrared (IR) excitation prior to vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) photoionization has greatly simplified the observed pulsed field ionization-photoelectron (PFI-PE) spectra, allowing the direct determination of the rotational constants B(+)(C(+))=0.254+/-0.003 cm(-1) for CH(3)I(+)(X (2)E(3/2);nu(7) (+)) and the ionization energy (76 896.9+/-0.2 cm(-1)) for CH(3)I(+)(X (2)E(3/2);nu(7) (+)=1,J(+)=3/2)<--CH(3)I(X (1)A(1);nu(7)=1,J=0). The IR-VUV-PFI-PE and IR-VUV-photoion measurements also provide relative state-to-state (nu(7) (+)=1, J(+)<--nu(7)=1, J) cross sections for the photoionization process.     

Quadrupole, octopole, and hexadecapole electric moments of Sigma, Pi, Delta, and Phi electronic states: cylindrically asymmetric charge density distributions in linear molecules with nonzero electronic angular momentum

The number of independent components, n, of traceless electric 2(l)-multipole moments is determined for C(infinity v) molecules in Sigma(+/-), Pi, Delta, and Phi electronic states (Lambda=0,1,2,3). Each 2(l) pole is defined by a rank-l irreducible tensor with (2l+1) components P(m)((l)) proportional to the solid spherical harmonic r(l)Y(m)(l)(theta,phi). Here we focus our attention on 2(l) poles with l=2,3,4 (quadrupole Theta, octopole Omega, and hexadecapole Phi). An important conclusion of this study is that n can be 1 or 2 depending on both the multipole rank l and state quantum number Lambda. For Sigma(+/-)(Lambda=0) states, all 2(l) poles have one independent parameter (n=1). For spatially degenerate states--Pi, Delta, and Phi (Lambda=1,2,3)--the general rule reads n=1 for l<2/Lambda/ (when the 2(l)-pole rank lies below 2/Lambda/ but n=2 for higher 2(l) poles with l>or=2/Lambda/. The second nonzero term is the off-diagonal matrix element [formula: see text]. Thus, a Pi(Lambda=1) state has one dipole (mu(z)) but two independent 2(l) poles for l>or=2--starting with the quadrupole [Theta(zz),(Theta(xx)-Theta(yy))]. A Delta(Lambda=2) state has n=1 for 2((1,2,3)) poles (mu(z),Theta(zz),Omega(zzz)) but n=2 for higher 2((l>or=4)) poles--from the hexadecapole Phi up. For Phi(Lambda=3) states, it holds that n=1 for 2(1) to 2(5) poles but n=2 for all 2((l>or=6)) poles. In short, what is usually stated in the literature--that n=1 for all possible 2(l) poles of linear molecules--only applies to Sigma(+/-) states. For degenerate states with n=2, all Cartesian 2(l)-pole components (l>or=2/Lambda/) can be expressed as linear combinations of two irreducible multipoles, P(m=0)((l)) and P/m/=2 Lambda)((l)) [parallel (z axis) and anisotropy (xy plane)]. Our predictions are exemplified by the Theta, Omega, and Phi moments calculated for Lambda=0-3 states of selected diatomics (in parentheses): X (2)Sigma(+)(CN), X (2)Pi(NO), a (3)Pi(u)(C(2)), X (2)Delta(NiH), X (3)Delta(TiO), X (3)Phi(CoF), and X (4)Phi(TiF). States of Pi symmetry are most affected by the deviation from axial symmetry.     

On the ultraviolet photodissociation of H(2)Te

The photodissociation of H(2)Te through excitation in the first absorption band is investigated by means of multireference spin-orbit configuration interaction (CI) calculations. Bending potentials for low-lying electronic states of H(2)Te are obtained in C(2v) symmetry for Te-H distances fixed at the ground state equilibrium value of 3.14a(0), as well as for the minimum energy path constrained to R(1)=R(2). Asymmetric cuts of potential energy surfaces for excited states (at R(1)=3.14a(0) and theta;=90.3 degrees ) are obtained for the first time. It is shown that vibrational structure in the 380-400 nm region of the long wavelength absorption tail is due to transitions to 3A('), which has a shallow minimum at large HTe-H separations. Transitions to this state are polarized in the molecular plane, and this state converges to the excited TeH((2)Pi(1/2))+H((2)S) limit. These theoretical data are in accord with the selectivity toward TeH((2)Pi(1/2)) relative to TeH((2)Pi(3/2)) that has been found experimentally for 355 nm H(2)Te photodissociation. The calculated 3A(')<--XA(') transition dipole moment increases rapidly with HTe-H distance; this explains the observation of 3A(') vibrational structure for low vibrational levels, despite unfavorable Franck-Condon factors. According to the calculated vertical energies and transition moment data, the maximum in the first absorption band at approximately 245 nm is caused by excitation to 4A("), which has predominantly 2(1)A(") ((1)B(1) in C(2v) symmetry) character.     

Measurement of Br photofragment orientation and alignment from HBr photodissociation: production of highly spin-polarized hydrogen atoms

The orientation and alignment of the (2)P(3/2) and (2)P(1/2) Br photofragments from the photodissociation of HBr is measured at 193 nm in terms of a(q) ((k))(p) parameters, using slice imaging. The A (1)Pi state is excited almost exclusively, and the measured a(q) ((k))(p) parameters and the spin-orbit branching ratio show that the dissociation proceeds predominantly via nonadiabatic transitions to the a (3)Pi and 1 (3)Sigma(+) states. Conservation of angular momentum shows that the electrons of the nascent H atom cofragments (recoiling parallel to the photolysis polarization) are highly spin polarized: about 100% for the Br((2)P(1/2)) channel, and 86% for the Br((2)P(3/2)) channel. A similar analysis is demonstrated for the photodissociation of HCl.     

Reinvestigation of the electronic spectroscopy of the Au-Ar complex

The Au-Ar complex is reinvestigated employing resonance-enhanced multiphoton ionization spectroscopy. Spectra are reported, corresponding to the atomic transition Au(6p<--6s). This electronic excitation yields (2)Pi and (2)Sigma(+) states of Au-Ar, which interact under the influence of spin-orbit coupling. The spectra are consistent with strong sigma-pi mixing induced by the large spin-orbit coupling of Au, leading to strong interaction of the two Omega=12 states, which arise from the Ar((1)S(0))+Au((2)P(12,32)) asymptotes, and the consequent formation of a "shelf" on the outer wall of the lowest Omega=12 state. In addition, high-level ab initio calculations are reported on the ground electronic state, X (2)Sigma(+), including extrapolation to the basis set limit.     

Cold and ultracold chemical reactions of F+HCl and F+DCl

We report quantum dynamics calculations of F((2)P)+HCl(v,j)-->HF(v('),j('))+Cl((2)P) and F+DCl(v,j)-->DF(v('),j('))+Cl reactions at cold and ultracold temperatures. The effect of rotational and vibrational excitations of the HCl molecule on the reactivity is investigated. It is found that, in the ultracold regime, vibrational excitation of the HCl molecule from v=0 to v=2 enhances the reactivity by four orders of magnitude. The rotational excitation from j=0 to j=1 decreases the reactivity while the rotational excitation from j=0 to j=2 increases the reactivity. The overall effect of rotational excitation was found to be much smaller than vibrational excitation. The reactivity of the F+DCl system is significantly lower than that of the F+HCl case indicating the importance of quantum tunneling at low energies. For both reactions, Feshbach resonances corresponding to Fcdots, three dots, centered HCl or Fcdots, three dots, centeredDCl triatomic states occur at low energies. We also explored the validity of the coupled-states approximation for cold collisions taking the F+HCl(v=0,j=0) reaction as an illustrative example. It is found that the coupled-states approximation is generally valid for the background scattering even at low energies but it is inadequate to accurately describe the rich resonances in the energy dependence of the cross section resulting from the decay of van der Waals complexes. It is further shown that the coupled-states approximation cannot be used for scattering in the Wigner threshold regime when the molecule is initially in a rotationally excited level.     

Neutral photodissociation of superexcited states of molecular iodine

The formation of high-n Rydberg atoms from the neutral dissociation of superexcited states of I(2) formed by resonant two-photon excitation of molecular iodine using an ArF laser has been investigated. The high-n Rydberg atoms I* are formed by predissociation of the optically excited molecular Rydberg states I*(2)[R(B (2)Sigma(g) (+))] converging on the I(2) (+)(B (2)Sigma(g) (+)) state of the ion. Measurement of the kinetic energy release of the Rydberg I* fragments allowed the identification of the asymptotic channels as I*[R((3)P(J))]+I((2)P(32)), where the I*[R((3)P(J))] are Rydberg atoms converging on the I(+)((3)P(J)) states of the ion with J=2, 1, and 0. In the case of the I*[R((3)P(2))] fragments, the average Rydberg lifetime is observed to be 325+/-25 micros. Based on experiments on the variation of the Rydberg atom signal with the field ionizing strength, the distribution of Rydberg levels peaks at about 25-50 cm(-1) below the ionization limit.     

The K2 2(3)Pi(g) state: new observations and analysis

Totally 3045 transitions into the 2(3)Pi(g) v = 0-42, J = 0-103, Omega = 0, 1, 2 rovibrational levels have been observed by infrared-infrared double resonance fluorescence excitation and two-photon spectroscopy. Molecular constants including the spin-orbit interaction parameters are obtained. Although the K2 2(3)Pi(g) state dissociates to the 4s + 3d atomic limit, it is strongly mixed with the 3P ionic states in the range of the potential well. This mixing results in a relatively large equilibrium internuclear distance Re = 5.254 A and a larger spin-orbit constant A0 approximately 14.17 cm(-1) than that of the atomic limit -2.33 cm(-1). Strong perturbations of the 2(3)Pi(g) levels observed are attributed to the spin-orbit coupling with the 4(1)Sigma(g)+ state.     

Ab initio study on the ground and low-lying excited states of cesium iodide (CsI)

Potential energy curves (PECs) for the ground and low-lying excited states of the cesium iodide (CsI) molecule have been calculated using the internally contracted multireference configuration interaction calculation with single and double excitation method with the relativistic pseudopotentials. PECs for seven Lambda-S states, X 1Sigma+, 2 1Sigma+, 3Sigma+, 1Pi, and 3Pi are first calculated and then those for 13 Omega states are obtained by diagonalizing the matrix of the electronic Hamiltonian H(el) plus the effective one-electron spin-orbit (SO) Hamiltonian H(SO). Spectroscopic constants for the calculated ground X 0+-state PEC with the Davidson correction are found to agree well with the experiment. Transition dipole moments (TDMs) between X 0 and the other Omega states are also obtained and the TDM between X 0+ and A 0+ is predicted to be the largest and that between X 0+ and B 0+ is the second largest around the equilibrium internuclear distance. The TDMs between X 0+ and the Omega=1 states are estimated to be nonzero, but they are notably small as compared with those between the 0+ states. Finally, vibrational levels of the X 0+ PEC for the two isotopic analogs, (133)CsI and (135)CsI, are numerically obtained to investigate the isotope effect on the vibrational-level shift. It has been found that the maximized available isotope shift is approximately 30 cm(-1) around nu=136.     

Multiphoton dissociation dynamics of BrCl and the BrCl+ cation

Ion imaging methods have enabled identification of three mechanisms by which (79)Br(+) and (35)Cl(+) fragment ions are formed following one-color multiphoton excitation of BrCl molecules in the wavelength range 324.6 > lambda > 311.7 nm. Two-photon excitation within this range populates selected vibrational levels (v'= 0-5) of the [X (2)Pi(1/2)]5ssigma Rydberg state. Absorption of a third photon results in branching between (i) photoionization (i.e. removal of the Rydberg electron-a traditional 2 + 1 REMPI process) and (ii)pi*<--pi excitation within the core, resulting in formation of one or more super-excited states with Omega= 1 and configuration [A (2)Pi(1/2)]5ssigma. The fate of the latter states involves a further branching. They can autoionize (yielding BrCl(+)(X (2)Pi) ions in a wider range of v(+) states than formed by direct 2 + 1 REMPI). Further, one-photon absorption by the parent ions resulting from direct ionization or autoionization leads to formation of Br(+) and (energy permitting) Cl(+) fragment ions. Alternatively, the super-excited molecules can fragment to neutral atoms, one of which is in a Rydberg state. Complementary ab initio calculations lead to the conclusion that the observed [Cl**[(3)P(J)]4s + Br/Br*] products result from direct dissociation of the photo-prepared super-excited states, whereas [Br**[(3)P(J)]5p + Cl/Cl*] product formation involves interaction between the [A (2)Pi(1/2)]5ssigma and [X (2)Pi(1/2)]5psigma Rydberg potentials at extended Br-Cl bond lengths. Absorption of one further photon by the resulting Br** and Cl** Rydberg atoms leads to their ionization, and thus their appearance in the Br(+) and Cl(+) fragment ion images.     

Observation and analysis of the 2g(1D) ion-pair state of I2: the g/u mixing between the 1u(1D) and 2g(1D) states

We report the analysis of the 2g(1D) ion-pair state of I2 by perturbation-facilitated optical-optical double resonance. The present study began with the observation of the 2g(1D)-A' 3Pi(2u) emission at around 230 nm during the analysis of the ultraviolet emissions originating form the 1u(1D) ion-pair state. The identification of this new transition helped us to specify the wavelengths for detecting the 2g(1D) state by emission, and also to estimate its absolute position. The intermediate states used to observe the 2g(1D) state were the B 3Pi(0u(+))-b' 2u mixed states by the hyperfine interaction, which allowed us to combine the X 1Sigmag(+) ground state with the 2g(1D) state in the (1+1) photon excitation following the optical selection rules for one-photon transitions: 2g(1D)<--b' 2u-B 3Pi(0u(+))<--X 1Sigmag(+). Our analysis covered the 2g(1D) state in the 0< or =v< or =12 and 9< or =J< or =40 ranges. The molecular constants and Rydberg-Klein-Rees (RKR) potential of the 2g(1D) state were reported. We discussed the occurrence of the 2g(1D)-A' 3Pi(2u) emission, when exciting to the 1u(1D) v=0 state, and attributed it to the g/u mixing between the 2g(1D) and 1u(1D) states by the hyperfine interaction. The effect of the perturbation on measured line intensities and lifetimes was evident.     

The spin-orbit and rotational constants for the N2 C" 5Pi(ui) (v = 3) state

The spin-orbit (A = -16.4 cm(-1)) and rotational (B = 1.017 cm(-1)) constants for the N2 C" 5Pi(ui)(v = 3) level are determined by a fit to rotational lines in the C" 5Pi(u)-A' 5Sigma(g)+(3-1) band that terminate in J'Omega' = 3(3), 4(3), 3(2), and 4(2) levels of the C" state. The C"-state spin-orbit constant is consistent with semi-empirical estimates, based on spin-orbit constants observed in several other electronic states of N2 and the atomic spin-orbit coupling constant, zeta(N 2p). The C"-A' bands exhibit the unusual feature of oppositely degraded sub-band heads, Omega' = 3 (red) and Omega' = 1, 0, and -1 (blue). The unusually wide range of B(Omega)eff values, from 0.85 cm(-1) (Omega = 3) to 1.28 cm(-1) (Omega = -1) for C" 5Pi(v = 3) should be diagnostically useful for Omega'-assignments. The C" 5Pi(v = 3) level lies 14257.17 and 90599 cm(-1) above A' 5Sigma(g)+(v = 1) and X 1Sigma(g)+(v = 0), respectively, and Re(C" 5Pi) = 1.50 A.     

Two-dimensional resonance enhanced multiphoton ionization of H(i)Cl; i = 35, 37: state interactions, photofragmentations and energetics of high energy Rydberg states

Mass spectra were recorded for (2 + n) resonance enhanced multiphoton ionization (REMPI) of HCl as a function of resonance excitation energy in the 88865-89285 cm(-1) region to obtain two-dimensional REMPI data. Band spectra due to two-photon resonance transitions to number of Rydberg states (Ω' = 0, 1, and 2) and the ion-pair state V((1)Σ(+)(Ω' = 0)) for H(35)Cl and H(37)Cl were identified, assigned, and analyzed with respect to Rydberg to ion-pair interactions. Perturbations show as line-, hence energy level-, shifts, as well as ion signal intensity variations with rotational quantum numbers, J', which, together, allowed determination of parameters relevant to the nature and strength of the state interactions as well as dissociation and ionization processes. Whereas near-resonance, level-to-level, interactions are found to be dominant in heterogeneous state interactions (ΔΩ ≠ 0) significant off-resonance interactions are observed in homogeneous interactions (ΔΩ = 0). The alterations in Cl(+) and HCl(+) signal intensities prove to be very useful for spectra assignments. Data relevant to excitations to the j(3)Σ(0(+)) Rydberg states and comparison with (3 + n) REMPI spectra allowed reassignment of corresponding spectra peaks. A band previously assigned to an Ω = 0 Rydberg state was reassigned to an Ω = 2 state (ν(0) = 88957.6 cm(-1)).