Investigating charge-up and fragmentation dynamics of oxygen molecules after interaction with strong X-ray free-electron laser pulses. Issue 44 (7th November 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kastirke, G.; Ota, F.; Rezvan, D. V.; Schöffler, M. S.; Weller, M.; Rist, J.; Boll, R.; Anders, N.; Baumann, T. M.; Eckart, S.; Erk, B.; De Fanis, A.; Fehre, K.; Gatton, A.; Grundmann, S.; Grychtol, P.; Hartung, A.; Hofmann, M.; Ilchen, M.; Janke, C.; Kircher, M.; Kunitski, M.; Li, X.; Mazza, T.; Melzer, N.; Montano, J.; Music, V.; Nalin, G.; Ovcharenko, Y.; Pier, A.; Rennhack, N.; Rivas, D. E.; Dörner, R.; Rolles, D.; Rudenko, A.; Schmidt, Ph.; Siebert, J.; Strenger, N.; Trabert, D.; Vela-Perez, I.; Wagner, R.; Weber, Th.; Williams, J. B.; Ziolkowski, P.; Schmidt, L. Ph. H.; Czasch, A.; Tamura, Y.; Hara, N.; Yamazaki, K.; Hatada, K.; Trinter, F.; Meyer, M.; Ueda, K.; Demekhin, Ph. V.; Jahnke, T.;
• Is Part Of: Physical chemistry chemical physics. Volume 24:Issue 44(2022)
• Page Start: 27121
• Page End: 27127
• Publication Date: 2022-11-07
• Subjects: Chemistry, Physical and theoretical -- Periodicals; 541.3
• DOI: 10.1039/d2cp02408j
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1463-9076

Abstract

Abstract : The X-ray-induced charge-up and fragmentation process of a small molecule is examined in great detail by measuring the molecular-frame photoelectron interference pattern in conjunction with other observables in coincidence. Abstract : During the last decade, X-ray free-electron lasers (XFELs) have enabled the study of light–matter interaction under extreme conditions. Atoms which are subject to XFEL radiation are charged by a complex interplay of (several subsequent) photoionization events and electronic decay processes within a few femtoseconds. The interaction with molecules is even more intriguing, since intricate nuclear dynamics occur as the molecules start to dissociate during the charge-up process. Here, we demonstrate that by analyzing photoelectron angular emission distributions and kinetic energy release of charge states of ionic molecular fragments, we can obtain a detailed understanding of the charge-up and fragmentation dynamics. Our novel approach allows for gathering such information without the need of complex ab initio modeling. As an example, we provide a detailed view on the processes happening on a femtosecond time scale in oxygen molecules exposed to intense XFEL pulses.