Erik Månsson

Deep Coherent Ray Tracing

Tracing secondary rays, such as reflection, refraction and shadow rays, can often be the most costly step in a modern real-time ray tracer. In this paper, we examine this problem by using suitable ray coherence measures and present a thorough evaluation of different reordering heuristics for secondary rays. We also present a simple system design for more coherent scene traversal by caching secondary rays and using sorted packet-tracing. Although the results are only slightly incremental to current research, we believe this study is an interesting contribution for further research in the field.

Development and characterization of a multiple-coincidence ion-momentum imaging spectrometer.

The design and performance of a high-resolution momentum-imaging spectrometer for ions which is optimized for experiments using synchrotron radiation is presented. High collection efficiency is achieved by a focusing electrostatic lens; a long drift tube improves mass resolution and a position-sensitive detector enables measurement of the transverse momentum of ions. The optimisation of the lens for particle momentum measurement at the highest resolution is described. We discuss the overall performance of the spectrometer and present examples demonstrating the momentum resolution for both kinetics and for angular measurements in molecular fragmentation for carbon monoxide and fullerenes. Examples are presented that confirm that complete space-time focussing is possible for a two-field three-dimensional imaging spectrometer.

Role of the Renner-Teller effect after core hole excitation in the dissociation dynamics of carbon dioxide dication.

The fragmentation of the doubly-charged carbon dioxide molecule is studied after photoexcitation to the C 1s(1)2π(u) and O 1s(1)2π(u) states using a multicoincidence ion-imaging technique. The bent component of the Renner-Teller split states populated in the 1s→ π* resonant excitation at both the carbon and oxygen 1s ionization edges opens pathways to potential surfaces in highly bent geometries in the dication. Evidence for a complete deformation of the molecule is found in the coincident detection of C(+) and O(2)(+) ions. The distinct alignment of this fragmentation channel indicates rapid deformation and subsequent fragmentation. Investigation of the complete atomization dynamics in the dication leading to asymmetric charge separation shows that the primary dissociation mechanisms, sequential, concerted, and asynchronous concerted, are correlated to specific fragment kinetic energies. The study shows that the bond angle in fragmentation can extend below 20°.

Rapid bond rearrangement in core-excited molecular water

The angular anisotropy of fragments created in the dissociation of core-electron excited water molecules is studied to probe the correlation between fragmentation channels, kinematics and molecular geometry. We present fragment kinetic measurements for water molecules where the inner-shell oxygen electron is excited to the unoccupied 4a1 and 2b2 valence molecular orbitals. The kinematics of individual fragmentation channels are measured using fully three-dimensional momentum imaging of fragments. The results show that the geometry of the molecule and the kinetic energy of fragments are strongly coupled in the atomisation process. In addition we identify a fragmentation process arising from bond rearrangement evidenced by the H2(+)-O(+) ion pair which is accessible for resonant excitation of the 1s electron. In all of the two-body fragmentation processes the dissociation takes place along the potential-energy surface, while atomisation reveals both dissociation along the potential surface and Coulomb explosion. The angular distribution of fragments suggests that the bond rearrangement is very rapid; likely on a sub 10 fs time scale.

Molecular dynamics of NH3 induced by core-electron excitation

Nuclear motion in the N1s(-1)4a core-excited state of ammonia is investigated by studying the angular anisotropy of fragments produced in the decay of the highly excited molecule and compared with predictions from ab initio calculations. Two different fragmentation channels (H(+)/NH2(+) and H(+)/NH(+)/H) reveal complex nuclear dynamics as the excitation photon energy is tuned through the 4a1 resonance. The well-defined angular anisotropy of the fragments produced in the dissociation of the molecular dication species suggests a very rapid nuclear motion and the time scale of the nuclear dynamics is limited to the low fs timescale.

Rapid bond rearrangement in molecules after core-electron excitation

Experimental studies of core-excited molecules using three-dimensional multi particle momentum imaging are presented where bond rearrangement processes in dication species are analysed. The aim of the study is to understand the relation between the geometric changes associated with core-excited states and the kinetic energy released in particular molecular dissociation processes. The kinematics of individual fragmentation channels are studied by fully three-dimensional momentum imaging of fragments in coincidence. Examples are presented where the high efficiency of the instrument and the fully three-dimensional momentum capabilities are exploited to understand nuclear motion leading to bond rearrangement in core-excited states. We identify bond-rearrangement processes in water, carbonyl sulphide and acetylene which are initiated in the core-excited state. In water this is evidenced by the H-2(+)/O+ ion pair, and in carbonyl sulphide the OS++C+ pair is the fingerprint of this reaction. In acetylene the H-2(+) + C-2(+) ion pair indicates a molecular geometry that changes from linear to strongly bent. We measure the angular distribution of all fragments and fragment pairs and for the bond rearrangement processes in water and in core-excited acetylene the angular distribution of fragments suggests that the bond rearrangement is very rapid. (Less)

Multi-purpose two- and three-dimensional momentum imaging of charged particles for attosecond experiments at 1 kHz repetition rate

We report on the versatile design and operation of a two-sided spectrometer for the imaging of charged-particle momenta in two dimensions (2D) and three dimensions (3D). The benefits of 3D detection are to discern particles of different mass and to study correlations between fragments from multi-ionization processes, while 2D detectors are more efficient for single-ionization applications. Combining these detector types in one instrument allows us to detect positive and negative particles simultaneously and to reduce acquisition times by using the 2D detector at a higher ionization rate when the third dimension is not required. The combined access to electronic and nuclear dynamics available when both sides are used together is important for studying photoreactions in samples of increasing complexity. The possibilities and limitations of 3D momentum imaging of electrons or ions in the same spectrometer geometry are investigated analytically and three different modes of operation demonstrated experimentally, with infrared or extreme ultraviolet light and an atomic/molecular beam.

The role of charge and proton transfer in fragmentation of hydrogen-bonded nanosystems: the breakup of ammonia clusters upon single photon multi-ionization

The charge and proton dynamics in hydrogen-bonded networks are investigated using ammonia as a model system. The fragmentation dynamics of medium-sized clusters (1-2 nm) upon single photon multi-ionization is studied, by analyzing the momenta of small ionic fragments. The observed fragmentation pattern of the doubly- and triply-charged clusters reveals a spatial anisotropy of emission between fragments (back-to-back). Protonated fragments exhibit a distinct kinematic correlation, indicating a delay between ionization and fragmentation (fission). The different kinematics observed for channels containing protonated and unprotonated species provides possible insights into the prime mechanisms of charge and proton transfer, as well as proton hopping, in such a nanoscale system.

Attosecond time delays in C-60 valence photoemissions at the giant plasmon

We perform time-dependent local density functional calculations of the time delay in C-60 HOMO and HOMO-1 photoionization at giant plasmon energies. A semiclassical model is used to develop further insights.

Dynamics of dissociation in inner-valence excited 1,3-trans-Butadiene probed by 3-D multiple ion momentum imaging

The study focuses on rapid nuclear rearrangement/isomerization taking place in an early stage of butadiene fragmentation using multiple ion momentum imaging spectroscopy and tunable synchrotron radiation. In addition, ab initio calculations are performed to disentangle the nuclear dynamics preceding dissociation.