Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Femtosecond multiphoton ionization of ammonia clusters

Journal Article · · Journal of Chemical Physics; (United States)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.463273· OSTI ID:7016701
; ; ; ;  [1]
  1. Department of Chemistry, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802 (United States)

Herein, we report on femtosecond time-resolved experiments in ammonia clusters. The mechanisms of their ionization and the subsequent formation of the protonated ammonia cluster ions are studied using a femtosecond pump-probe technique at 620 nm. It is found that an intermediate corresponding to [ital C][prime] states of the monomer is responsible for the ionization of ammonia clusters. Femtosecond pump--probe studies show that the lifetime of the intermediate to the formation of the protonated cluster ions (NH[sub 3])[sub [ital n]]H[sup +] ([ital n]=1--5) is the same as that leading to the formation of the unprotonated cluster ions (NH[sub 3])[sub [ital m]][sup +] ([ital m]=2--5). The results provide the first direct experimental proof that formation of the protonated cluster ions takes place through an absorption--ionization--dissociation mechanism.

DOE Contract Number:
FG02-88ER60648
OSTI ID:
7016701
Journal Information:
Journal of Chemical Physics; (United States), Journal Name: Journal of Chemical Physics; (United States) Vol. 97:12; ISSN JCPSA6; ISSN 0021-9606
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English