Fragmentation dynamics of nitrogen trifluoride induced by electron collision.

Abstract

The fragmentation dynamics of nitrogen trifluoride (NF3) in collisions with a 500 eV electron is studied by using a momentum imaging spectrometer. The kinetic energy releases of two-body, three-body, and four-body fragmentation channels of NF3 q+ (q = 2, 3) are investigated. The fragmentation dynamics of three-body, as well as four-body, dissociation channels is analyzed by the Dalitz plot and the Newton diagram. It is found that for all of the dissociation channels, the fragment including N atom (ion) always shares significant momenta, regardless of whether it is charged. For F atom, however, it is always emitted with negligible momenta.