Kinematically complete experiments for electron induced break-up of small molecules and clusters

Abstract

The electron collision induced ionization and fragmentation dynamics is studied for tetrafluoromethane (CF4), carbondioxide (CO2) and small water clusters (H2O)n (n ≤ 6). With a multi-particle imaging spectrometer for each collision two electrons and one ion were recorded in triple-coincidence. The dissociation dynamics of CF4 was analyzed as a function of the ionized orbitals. For the CO2 target the angular emission pattern of the ejected electron was studied as function of the projectile scattering kinematics. Fully differential cross sections were recorded to test a recently developed theoretical method. In addition ionization experiments for small water clusters revealed details on their stability, ionization energies and proton transfer reactions. Specific states of the stable dimers ions where observed for the first time.