Single photon induced symmetry breaking of H2 dissociation

Journal Article · Wed Dec 06 00:00:00 EST 2006 · Science

OSTI ID:929484

Martin, F; Fernandez, J; Havermeier, T; Foucar, L; Weber, Th; Kreidi, K; Schoffler, M; Schmidt, L; Jahnke, T; Landers, A L; Jagutzki, O; Czasch, A; Benis, E; Osipov, T; Belkacem, A; Prior, M H; Schmidt-Bocking, H; Cocke, C L; Dorner, R

H{sub 2}, the smallest and most abundant molecule in the universe, has a perfectly symmetric ground state. What does it take to break this symmetry? Here we show that the inversion symmetry can be broken by absorption of a linearly polarized photon, which itself has inversion symmetry. In particular, the emission of a photoelectron with subsequent dissociation of the remaining H{sub 2}{sup +} fragment shows no symmetry with respect to the ionic H+ and neutral H atomic fragments. This result is the consequence of the entanglement between symmetric and antisymmetric H{sub 2}{sup +} states resulting from autoionization. The mechanisms behind this symmetry breaking are general for all molecules.

• Research Organization: COLLABORATION - U. Autonoma deMadrid/Spain
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Director. Office of Science. Basic EnergySciences
• DOE Contract Number: DE-AC02-05CH11231
• OSTI ID: 929484
• Report Number(s): LBNL-62242; SCEHDK; R&D Project: 402901; BnR: KC0301030; TRN: US0803596
• Journal Information: Science, Vol. 315, Issue 5812; Related Information: Journal Publication Date: 02/02/2007; ISSN 0193-4511
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

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ABSORPTION
AUTOIONIZATION
DISSOCIATION
GROUND STATES
PHOTONS
SYMMETRY
SYMMETRY BREAKING
UNIVERSE