Velocity Map Imaging Study Research Articles

A New kHz Velocity Map Ion/Electron Imaging Spectrometer for Femtosecond Time-Resolved Molecular Reaction Dynamics Studies

A new velocity map imaging spectrometer is constructed for molecular reaction dynamics studies using time-resolved photoelectron/ion spectroscopy method. By combining a kHz pulsed valve and an ICCD camera, this velocity map imaging spectrometer can be run at a repetition rate of 1 kHz, totally compatible with the fs Ti:Sapphire laser system, facilitating time-resolved studies in gas phase which are usually time-consuming. Time-resolved velocity map imaging study of NH3 photodissociation at 200 nm was performed and the time-resolved total kinetic energy release spectrum of H+NH2 products provides rich information about the dissociation dynamics of NH3. These results show that this new apparatus is a powerful tool for investigating the molecular reaction dynamics using time-resolved methods.

A velocity-map imaging study of methyl non-resonant multiphoton ionization from the photodissociation of CH3I in the A-band.

Chemical reaction dynamics and, particularly, photodissociation in the gas phase are generally studied using pump-probe schemes where a first laser pulse induces the process under study and a second one detects the produced fragments. Providing an efficient detection of ro-vibrationally state-selected photofragments, the resonance enhanced multiphoton ionization (REMPI) technique is, without question, the most popular approach used for the probe step, while non-resonant multiphoton ionization (NRMPI) detection of the products is scarce. The main goal of this work is to test the sensitivity of the NRMPI technique to fragment vibrational distributions arising from molecular photodissociation processes. We revisit the well-known process of methyl iodide photodissociation in the A-band at around 280 nm, using the velocity-map imaging technique in conjunction with NRMPI of the methyl fragment. The detection wavelength, carefully selected to avoid any REMPI transition, was scanned between 325 and 335 nm seeking correlations between the different observables-the product vibrational, translational and angular distributions-and the excitation wavelength of the probe laser pulse. The experimental results have been discussed on the base of quantum dynamics calculations of photofragment vibrational populations carried out on available ab initio potential-energy surfaces using a four-dimensional model.This article is part of the themed issue 'Theoretical and computational studies of non-equilibrium and non-statistical dynamics in the gas phase, in the condensed phase and at interfaces'.

A velocity map imaging study of the photodissociation of the methyl iodide cation.

The photodissociation dynamics of the methyl iodide cation has been studied using the velocity map imaging technique. A first laser pulse is used to ionize methyl iodide via a (2 + 1) REMPI scheme through the 5pπ → 6p Rydberg state two-photon transition. The produced CH3I+(X[combining tilde]2E3/2) ions are subsequently excited at several wavelengths between 242 and 260 nm. The reported translational energy distributions for the methyl and iodine ions present a Boltzmann-type unstructured distribution at low excitation energies as well as a recoiled narrow structure at higher excitation energies highlighting two different dissociation processes. High level ab initio calculations have been performed in order to obtain a deeper understanding of the photodissociation dynamics of the CH3I+ ion. Direct dissociation on a repulsive state from the manifold of states representing the B[combining tilde] excited state leads to CH3+(X[combining tilde]1A1') + I*(2P1/2), while the CH3 + I+(3P2) channel is populated through an avoided crossing outside the Franck-Condon region. In contrast, an indirect process involving the transfer of energy from highly excited electronic states to the ground state of the ion is responsible for the observed Boltzmann-type distributions.

Slow-electron velocity-map imaging study of aniline via resonance-enhanced two-photon ionization method

Slow electron velocity-map imaging (SEVI) of aniline has been investigated via two-color resonant-enhanced two-photo (1+1′) ionization (2C-R2PI) method. A number of vibrational frequencies in the first excited state of neutral (S1) and 2B1 ground electronic state of cation (D0) have been accurately determined. In addition, photoelectron angular distributions (PADs) in the two-step transitions are presented and reveal a near threshold shape resonance in the ionization of aniline. The SEVI spectra taken via various S1 intermediate states provide the detailed vibrational structures of D0 state and directly deduce the accurate adiabatic ionization potential (IP) of 62,271±6cm−1. Ab initio calculations excellently reproduce the experimental IP value (Theo. 62,242cm−1). For most vibrational modes, good agreement between theoretical and experimental frequencies in the S0 and D0 states of aniline is obtained to aid us to clearly assign vibrational modes. Especially, the vibrational frequencies calculated at the CASSCF level are much better consistent with experimental data than that obtained using the TDDFT and CIS methods.

Velocity Map Imaging Study of Ion-Radical Chemistry: Charge Transfer and Carbon-Carbon Bond Formation in the Reactions of Allyl Radicals with C(.).

We present an experimental and computational study of the dynamics of collisions of ground state carbon cations with allyl radicals, C3H5, at a collision energy of 2.2 eV. Charge transfer to produce the allyl cation, C3H5(+), is exoergic by 3.08 eV and proceeds via energy resonance such that the electron transfer occurs without a significant change in nuclear velocities. The products have sufficient energy to undergo the dissociation process C3H5(+) → C3H4(+) + H. Approximately 80% of the reaction products are ascribed to charge transfer, with ∼40% of those products decaying via loss of a hydrogen atom. We also observe products arising from the formation of new carbon-carbon bonds. The experimental velocity space flux distributions for the four-carbon products are symmetric about the centroid of the reactants, providing direct evidence that the products are mediated by formation of a C4H5(+) complex living at least a few rotational periods. The primary four-carbon reaction products are formed by elimination of molecular hydrogen from the C4H5(+) complex. More than 75% of the nascent C4H3(+) products decay by C-H bond cleavage to yield a C4H2(+) species. Quantum chemical calculations at the MP2/6-311+g(d,p) level of theory support the formation of a nonplanar cyclic C4H5(+) adduct that is produced when the p-orbital containing the unpaired electron on C(+) overlaps with the unpaired spin density on the terminal carbon atoms in allyl. Product formation then occurs by 1,2-elimination of molecular hydrogen from the cyclic intermediate to form a planar cyclic C4H3(+) product. The large rearrangement in geometry as the C4H3(+) products are formed is consistent with high vibrational excitation in that product and supports the observation that the majority of those products decay to form the C4H2(+) species.

The effects of symmetry and rigidity on non-adiabatic dynamics in tertiary amines: a time-resolved photoelectron velocity-map imaging study of the cage-amine ABCO.

The non-adiabatic relaxation dynamics of the tertiary cage-amine azabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (ABCO, also known as quinuclidine) have been investigated following 3p Rydberg excitation at 201 nm using femtosecond time-resolved photoelectron imaging (TRPEI). The aim of the study was to investigate the influence of the rigid and symmetric cage structure found in ABCO on the general non-adiabatic relaxation processes commonly seen in other tertiary aliphatic amines (TAAs). Our data is compared with TRPEI results very recently obtained for several structurally less rigid TAA systems [J. O. F. Thompson et al., Chem. Sci., 2016, 7, 1826-1839] and helps to confirm many of the previously reported findings. The experimental results for ABCO in the short-time (<1 ps) regime strongly support earlier conclusions suggesting that planarization about the N-atom is not a prerequisite for efficient 3p-3s internal conversion. Additionally, individual photoelectron peaks within our ABCO data show no temporal shifts in energy. As confirmed by our supporting quantum mechanical calculations, this demonstrates that neither internal conversion within the 3p manifold or significant conformational re-organization are possible in the ABCO system. This result therefore lends strong additional support to the active presence of such dynamical effects in other, less conformationally restricted TAA species, where photoelectron peak shifts are commonly observed. Finally, the extremely long (>1 ns) 3s Rydberg state lifetime seen in ABCO (relative to other TAA systems at similar excitation energies) serves to illustrate the large influence of symmetry and conformational rigidity on intramolecular vibrational redistribution processes previously implicated in mediating this aspect of the overall relaxation dynamics.

Dissociation energies of Ag-RG (RG = Ar, Kr, Xe) and AgO molecules from velocity map imaging studies.

The near ultraviolet photodissociation dynamics of silver atom-rare gas dimers have been studied by velocity map imaging. Ag-RG (RG = Ar, Kr, Xe) species generated by laser ablation are excited in the region of the C ((2)Σ(+))←X ((2)Σ(+)) continuum leading to direct, near-threshold dissociation generating Ag* ((2)P3/2) + RG ((1)S0) products. Images recorded at excitation wavelengths throughout the C ((2)Σ(+))←X ((2)Σ(+)) continuum, coupled with known atomic energy levels, permit determination of the ground X ((2)Σ(+)) state dissociation energies of 85.9 ± 23.4 cm(-1) (Ag-Ar), 149.3 ± 22.4 cm(-1) (Ag-Kr), and 256.3 ± 16.0 cm(-1) (Ag-Xe). Three additional photolysis processes, each yielding Ag atom photoproducts, are observed in the same spectral region. Two of these are markedly enhanced in intensity upon seeding the molecular beam with nitrous oxide, and are assigned to photodissociation of AgO at the two-photon level. These features yield an improved ground state dissociation energy for AgO of 15 965 ± 81 cm(-1), which is in good agreement with high level calculations. The third process results in Ag atom fragments whose kinetic energy shows anomalously weak photon energy dependence and is assigned tentatively to dissociative ionization of the silver dimer Ag2.

Gas-Phase Retro-Diels-Alder Reactions of Cyclohexene, 1-Methylcyclohexene, and 4-Methylcyclohexene following Photoexcitation at 193 nm: A Velocity-Map Imaging Study.

We present the results of a velocity-map imaging study into the retro-Diels-Alder (RDA) reactions of cyclohexene, 1-methylcyclohexene, and 4-methylcyclohexene following photoexcitation at 193 nm. Universal detection of all neutral fragments via vacuum-ultraviolet photoionization at 118 nm allows imaging of both RDA fragments in all cases. Fragment kinetic energy distributions reveal contributions from both dissociative ionization and retro-Diels-Alder reaction of the respective parent molecules, yielding reaction products with a high degree of internal excitation. Together with the observed isotropic product angular distributions, this is consistent with a mechanism in which the RDA reaction occurs from high vibrational levels of the electronic ground state following internal conversion from a higher-lying state initially populated in the photoexcitation process, as predicted by frontier molecular orbital theory. Velocity-map images and total translational energy distributions for the RDA products of 1-methylcyclohexene and 4-methylcyclohexene are very similar to those for unsubstituted cyclohexene, indicating that methyl substitution either adjacent to or far from the double bond has little effect on the dynamics of the RDA process.

Ion-molecule reaction dynamics: Velocity map imaging studies of N(+) and O(+) with CD3OD.

We present a study of the charge transfer reactions of the atomic ions N(+)and O(+) with methanol in the collision energy range from ∼2 to 4 eV. Charge transfer is driven primarily by energy resonance, although the widths of the product kinetic energy distributions suggest that significant interchange between relative translation and product vibration occurs. Charge transfer with CD3OD is more exoergic for N(+), and the nascent parent ion products appear to be formed in excited B̃ and C̃ electronic states, and fragment to CD2OD(+) by internal conversion and vibrational relaxation to the ground electronic state. The internal excitation imparted to the parent ion is sufficient to result in loss of one or two D atoms from the carbon atom. The less exoergic charge transfer reaction of O(+) forms nascent parent ions in the excited à state, and internal conversion to the ground state only results in ejection of single D atom. Selected isotopomers of methanol were employed to identify reaction products, demonstrating that deuterium atom loss from nascent parent ions occurs by C-D bond cleavage. Comparison of the kinetic energy distributions for charge transfer to form CD3OD(+) and CD2OD(+) by D atom loss with the known dynamics for hydride abstraction from a carbon atom provides strong evidence that the D loss products are formed by dissociative charge transfer rather than hydride (deuteride) transfer. Isotopic labeling also demonstrates that chemical reaction in the N(+) + CD3OD system to form NO(+) + CD4 does not occur in the energy range of these experiments, contrary to earlier speculation in the literature.

UV Photodissociation Dynamics of the CH3CHOO Criegee Intermediate: Action Spectroscopy and Velocity Map Imaging of O-Atom Products.

UV excitation of jet-cooled CH3CHOO on the B(1)A'-X(1)A' transition results in dissociation to two spin-allowed product channels: CH3CHO X(1)A' + O (1)D and CH3CHO a(3)A″ + O (3)P. The O (1)D and O (3)P products are detected using 2 + 1 REMPI at 205 and 226 nm, respectively, for action spectroscopy and velocity map imaging studies. The O (1)D action spectrum closely follows the previously reported UV absorption spectrum for jet-cooled CH3CHOO [Beames et al. J. Chem. Phys. 2013 , 138 , 244307]. Velocity map images of the O (1)D products following excitation of CH3CHOO at 305, 320, and 350 nm exhibit anisotropic angular distributions indicative of rapid (ps) dissociation, along with broad and unstructured total kinetic energy (TKER) distributions that reflect the internal energy distribution of the CH3CHO X(1)A' coproducts. The O (3)P action spectrum turns on near the peak of the UV absorption spectrum (ca. 324 nm) and extends to higher energy with steadily increasing O (3)P yield. Excitation of CH3CHOO at 305 nm, attributed to absorption of the more stable syn-conformer, also results in an anisotropic angular distribution of O (3)P products arising from rapid (ps) dissociation, but a narrower TKER distribution since less energy is available to the CH3CHO a(3)A″ + O (3)P products. The threshold for the higher energy CH3CHO a(3)A″ + O (3)P product channel is determined to be ca. 88.4 kcal mol(-1) from the termination of the TKER distribution and the onset of the O (3)P action spectrum. This threshold is combined with the singlet-triplet spacings of O atoms and acetaldehyde to establish the dissociation energy for syn-CH3HOO X(1)A' to the lowest spin-allowed product channel, CH3CHO X(1)A' + O (1)D, of ≤55.9 ± 0.4 kcal mol(-1). A harmonic normal-mode analysis is utilized to identify the vibrational modes of CH3CHO likely to be excited upon dissociation into the two product channels.

Velocity Map Imaging Study of Charge-Transfer and Proton-Transfer Reactions of CH3 Radicals with H3(.).

The velocity map imaging method has been applied to crossed beam studies of charge transfer and proton transfer between methyl (CH3) radicals formed by pyrolysis and H3(+) cations over the collision energy range from 1.2 to 3.4 eV. Vibrational excitation in the H3(+) reactants plays an important role both in promoting endoergic charge transfer and in supplying energy to the products of the proton-transfer reaction. Excited H3(+) reactants with vibrational energy in excess of the barrier lead to energy-resonant charge transfer via long-range collisions. A small fraction of collisions that take place at low impact parameters appear to form charge-transfer products with higher levels of internal excitation. The proton-transfer reaction exhibits direct, stripping-like dynamics. Consistent with the kinematics of proton transfer, incremental kinetic energy supplied to the reactants is strongly directed into product relative kinetic energy, as predicted by the concept of "induced repulsive energy release".

Electron ionization dynamics ofN2andO2molecules: Velocity-map imaging

This paper reports a crossed-beam velocity-map imaging study into the electron ionization dynamics of jet-cooled ${\mathrm{N}}_{2}$ and ${\mathrm{O}}_{2}$ molecules at electron collision energies from 35 to 100 eV. The use of velocity-map imaging detection provides insight into the detailed ionization dynamics through the dimension of the product ion kinetic energy associated with impulsive dissociation. In particular, ``mesoscopic'' cross sections corresponding to ionization from manifolds of energetically close states converging to the same dissociation asymptote are reported for a number of single-ionization channels. In addition, a range of double-ionization cross sections have been characterized, including those yielding ${{X}_{2}}^{2+}$ dications. These are found to be in excellent agreement with other cross sections determined in coincidence measurements. This agreement supports a meaningful and accurate determination of the single-ionization channels.

Rydberg and valence state excitation dynamics: a velocity map imaging study involving the E-V state interaction in HBr.

Photoexcitation dynamics of the E((1)Σ(+)) (v' = 0) Rydberg state and the V((1)Σ(+)) (v') ion-pair vibrational states of HBr are investigated by velocity map imaging (VMI). H(+) photoions, produced through a number of vibrational and rotational levels of the two states were imaged and kinetic energy release (KER) and angular distributions were extracted from the data. In agreement with previous work, we found the photodissociation channels forming H*(n = 2) + Br((2)P3/2)/Br*((2)P1/2) to be dominant. Autoionization pathways leading to H(+) + Br((2)P3/2)/Br*((2)P1/2) via either HBr(+)((2)Π3/2) or HBr(+)*((2)Π1/2) formation were also present. The analysis of KER and angular distributions and comparison with rotationally and mass resolved resonance enhanced multiphoton ionization (REMPI) spectra revealed the excitation transition mechanisms and characteristics of states involved as well as the involvement of the E-V state interactions and their v' and J' dependence.

Fragmentation dynamics of the ethyl bromide and ethyl iodide cations: a velocity-map imaging study

The photodissociation dynamics of ethyl bromide and ethyl iodide cations (C2H5Br(+) and C2H5I(+)) have been studied. Ethyl halide cations were formed through vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) photoionization of the respective neutral parent molecules at 118.2 nm, and were photolysed at a number of ultraviolet (UV) photolysis wavelengths, including 355 nm and wavelengths in the range from 236 to 266 nm. Time-of-flight mass spectra and velocity-map images have been acquired for all fragment ions and for ground (Br) and spin-orbit excited (Br*) bromine atom products, allowing multiple fragmentation pathways to be investigated. The experimental studies are complemented by spin-orbit resolved ab initio calculations of cuts through the potential energy surfaces (along the RC-Br/I stretch coordinate) for the ground and first few excited states of the respective cations. Analysis of the velocity-map images indicates that photoexcited C2H5Br(+) cations undergo prompt C-Br bond fission to form predominantly C2H5(+) + Br* products with a near-limiting 'parallel' recoil velocity distribution. The observed C2H3(+) + H2 + Br product channel is thought to arise via unimolecular decay of highly internally excited C2H5(+) products formed following radiationless transfer from the initial excited state populated by photon absorption. Broadly similar behaviour is observed in the case of C2H5I(+), along with an additional energetically accessible C-I bond fission channel to form C2H5 + I(+) products. HX (X = Br, I) elimination from the highly internally excited C2H5X(+) cation is deemed the most probable route to forming the C2H4(+) fragment ions observed from both cations. Finally, both ethyl halide cations also show evidence of a minor C-C bond fission process to form CH2X(+) + CH3 products.

Fast sensors for time-of-flight imaging applications

The development of sensors capable of detecting particles and radiation with both high time and high positional resolution is key to improving our understanding in many areas of science. Example applications of such sensors range from fundamental scattering studies of chemical reaction mechanisms through to imaging mass spectrometry of surfaces, neutron scattering studies aimed at probing the structure of materials, and time-resolved fluorescence measurements to elucidate the structure and function of biomolecules. In addition to improved throughput resulting from parallelisation of data collection - imaging of multiple different fragments in velocity-map imaging studies, for example - fast image sensors also offer a number of fundamentally new capabilities in areas such as coincidence detection. In this Perspective, we review recent developments in fast image sensor technology, provide examples of their implementation in a range of different experimental contexts, and discuss potential future developments and applications.

The VMI study on branching ratio decay from Eu 6p1/28s autoionizing state

A velocity-map-imaging (VMI) method is employed to investigate systematically the dynamical process of ejected electrons from autoionizing states of the Eu atom for the first time as far as we know. An atom is excited stepwise from the 4f76s6s8 S7/2 ground state to the 4f76s8s8 P7/2 Rydberg state via the 4f76s6p6 P5/2 intermediate state, then further excited to the 4f76p1/2(J=3)8s and 4f76p1/2(J=4)8s autoionizing states using the three-step isolated-core excitation method. According to the excitation pathways and selection rules, the value of total angular momentum of the autoionizing state can be calculated. The energy conservation and angular momentum parity conservation would enable us to determine the final states during the autoionizing process. The ejected electron, which decays from the autoionizing process, can be focused and imaged by the electron lens and the kinetic energy of it is resolved by the position sensitive detector. By combining velocity-map-imaging method with the mathematical transformation, the ejected electron energy distribution can be obtained, also the branching ratio is confirmed. Simultaneously, by tuning the wavelength of the third laser, the characteristic of the branching ratio following the variation of the photon energy, and the possibility of the population inversion have been discussed.

A velocity map imaging study of the photodissociation of the à state of ammonia

NH3(Ã) photodissociation dynamics has been studied using a combination of velocity map imaging (VMI) and resonance-enhanced multiphoton ionization (REMPI) of the H-atom product. H(+) ion images have been recorded after excitation to the first five NH3 (Ã, ν2' = n) ← (X, ν = 0) vibronic transitions (denoted as 0(0)(0) and 2(0)(n) with n = 1-4). The measured high-resolution H-atom kinetic energy distributions (KED) show a dense set of sharp structures related to rovibrational states of the NH2 co-fragment. A careful simulation of the KEDs in terms of the known internal energies of the NH2 fragment has allowed the extraction of the non-adiabatic NH2(X) rovibrational populations for the 0(0)(0), 2(0)(1) and 2(0)(2) transitions, which are in good agreement with previous measurements. For the 2(0)(3) and 2(0)(4) transitions, some features of the KED have been assigned to rovibrational states of NH2(Ã) fragments produced adiabatically. In particular, the sharp feature distinctively observed at very low kinetic energies in the H-atom KED for the 2(0)(4) transition has been undoubtedly assigned to H atoms produced in correlation with rotationally excited NH2 fragments in the à electronic state. For these two transitions, the analysis of the KEDs has allowed the determination of the NH2(X, Ã) rovibrational populations and precise electronic branching ratios, Φ* = [NH2(Ã)]/([NH2(X)] + [NH2(Ã)]). A speed-dependent anisotropy analysis of the H-atom images has been made for all transitions, which provides a picture of the partitioning of the available energy among the NH2 co-product internal modes - including the electronic branching ratios - in terms of a roaming-like mechanism.

Resonance enhanced multiphoton ionization spectroscopy of NHD2via the B̃1E′′-state

Rotational analysis of the (2 + 1) resonance enhanced multiphoton ionization (REMPI) spectrum of the B[combining tilde](1)E'' Rydberg state of the ammonia isotopologue NHD2 is reported. While the electronic degeneracy is lifted in NHD2 the splitting is small enough that interactions between the two states must be considered, particularly to model the intensity of the transitions. A simple model is developed to account for these interactions, relating them to terms present in the symmetric isotopologues. Spectroscopic parameters for the zero point and (ν2' = 1-6) vibrational levels of the B (1)E'' state have been derived using this model and the spectra are accurately simulated for the first time using the pgopher program. The current work provides the basis for on-going velocity map imaging studies of rotational energy transfer in the mixed isotopologues of ammonia.

Dissociation dynamics of the low-lying Rydberg states of Xe2: a velocity map imaging study

The photodissociation dynamics of Xe2 Rydberg states in the 76,900–80,000 cm−1 region have been studied using a combination of resonance enhanced multi-photon ionization and velocity map imaging. By monitoring photodissociation product channels as a function of excitation energy, several localized and long range perturbations of the excited states have been identified. In addition, several new band systems have been observed and assigned as the Xe2 5d 2[1/2]0° ← X , 5d 2[1/2]1° ← X , 5d 2[3/2]2° ← X , and 5d 2[7/2]3° ← X transitions.

Overtone-induced dissociation and isomerization dynamics of the hydroxymethyl radical (CH2OH and CD2OH). II. Velocity map imaging studies

The dissociation of the hydroxymethyl radical, CH(2)OH, and its isotopolog, CD(2)OH, following excitation in the 4ν(1) region (OH stretch overtone, near 13,600 cm(-1)) was studied using sliced velocity map imaging. A new vibrational band near 13,660 cm(-1) arising from interaction with the antisymmetric CH stretch was discovered for CH(2)OH. In CD(2)OH dissociation, D atom products (correlated with CHDO) were detected, providing the first experimental evidence of isomerization in the CH(2)OH ↔ CH(3)O (CD(2)OH ↔ CHD(2)O) system. Analysis of the H (D) fragment kinetic energy distributions shows that the rovibrational state distributions in the formaldehyde cofragments are different for the OH bond fission and isomerization pathways. Isomerization is responsible for 10%-30% of dissociation events in all studied cases, and its contribution depends on the excited vibrational level of the radical. Accurate dissociation energies were determined: D(0)(CH(2)OH → CH(2)O + H) = 10,160 ± 70 cm(-1), D(0)(CD(2)OH → CD(2)O + H) = 10,135 ± 70 cm(-1), D(0)(CD(2)OH → CHDO + D) = 10,760 ± 60 cm(-1).