Multiple ionization and Coulomb explosion of molecules, molecular complexes, clusters and solid surfaces

Publication date: Available online 15 December 2017 Source:Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology C: Photochemistry Reviews Author(s): Tomoyuki Yatsuhashi, Nobuaki Nakashima Intense femtosecond lasers as well as X-ray free electron lasers provide new means to produce multiply charged molecular cations. The fragmentation processes that these high energy species undergo, termed Coulomb explosion, are utilized to determine the static molecular structures as well as to trace the molecular dynamics of ultrafast chemical reactions. This review focuses on recent advances made in studies of Coulomb explosion imaging, highlighting the use of this process to determine the static structures of complex molecules, geometric isomers, chiral molecules and molecular complexes. Briefly, we summarize the recent time-resolved studies of surface electric fields and the controversy pertaining to the contribution of Coulomb explosion to the mechanism for ablation of solid surfaces.

Source: Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology C: Photochemistry Reviews - December 17, 2017 Category: Chemistry Source Type: research