Photoelectron angular distributions from rotationally state-selected NH₃(B¹E"): dependence on ion rotational state and polarization geometry

Paul Hockett (1) , Katharine Reid (2) , Michael Staniforth (3)

1 Steacie Institute
2 School of Chemistry
3 Chemistry

By using high resolution photoelectron velocity map imaging and a pump-probe ionization scheme we are able to demonstrate that photoelectron angular distributions from ammonia depend sensitively on the neutral rotational level that is ionized, and on the rotational level of the ion that is formed. We use this sensitivity to fully determine the photoionization dynamics giving rise to the observed photoelectron angular distributions and rotational branching ratios. In addition, we observe the dependence of the photoelectron angular distributions on initially prepared alignment, by varying the relative polarizations of pump and probe. This dependence can be used to corroborate the determined photoionization dynamics, and also provides a demonstration that tomographic reconstruction can be used to recreate three-dimensional photoelectron distributions in non-cylindrically symmetric situations.

Mots clés: Physical Sciences

Paul Hockett, Katharine Reid, Michael Staniforth. Photoelectron angular distributions from rotationally state-selected NH₃(B¹E"): dependence on ion rotational state and polarization geometry. Molecular Physics, 2010, 108 (07-09), pp.1045-1054. ⟨10.1080/00268971003639266⟩. ⟨hal-00596287⟩