Elucidating the two and three-body fragmentation channels on isotopically labeled nitrous oxide by a two-color asymmetric laser field

Abstract

We report the interaction of isotopically labeled nitrous oxide (15N14N16O) time-of-flight mass spectroscopy. The phase dependence of two-body fragmentation channels for linear and circular polarization reveals that the nitrogen–nitrogen bond fission channel is in accordance with the ‘selective ionization of oriented molecules’ mechanism, while the nitrogen–oxygen bond rupture involves an electron recollision mechanism. For the three-body-fragmentation channel resulting in 14N3+ ions it is demonstrated that it may proceed via a concerted and/or a sequential manner. The phase dependence of the sequential channel is indicative of the following dissociation route: 15N14N16O→15N14N+16O→15N+14N+16O.