Maria Novella Piancastelli

Double-core-hole spectroscopy for chemical analysis with an intense X-ray femtosecond laser

Theory predicts that double-core-hole (DCH) spectroscopy can provide a new powerful means of differentiating between similar chemical systems with a sensitivity not hitherto possible. Although DCH ionization on a single site in molecules was recently measured with double- and single-photon absorption, double-core holes with single vacancies on two different sites, allowing unambiguous chemical analysis, have remained elusive. Here we report that direct observation of double-core holes with single vacancies on two different sites produced via sequential two-photon absorption, using short, intense X-ray pulses from the Linac Coherent Light Source free-electron laser and compare it with theoretical modeling. The observation of DCH states, which exhibit a unique signature, and agreement with theory proves the feasibility of the method. Our findings exploit the ultrashort pulse duration of the free-electron laser to eject two core electrons on a time scale comparable to that of Auger decay and demonstrate possible future X-ray control of physical inner-shell processes.

Evidence for ultra-fast dissociation of molecular water from resonant Auger spectroscopy

We present direct evidence for ultra-fast dissociation of molecular water in connection photo-excitation of the Ols --> 4a(1) resonance. The core-excited H2O molecules are shown to dissociate into core-excited O*H and neutral H on a time scale comparable

Experimental Verification of the Chemical Sensitivity of Two-Site Double Core-Hole States Formed by an X-Ray Free-Electron Laser

We have performed x-ray two-photon photoelectron spectroscopy using the Linac Coherent Light Source x-ray free-electron laser in order to study double core-hole (DCH) states of CO2, N2O, and N2. The experiment verifies the theory behind the chemical sensitivity of two-site DCH states by comparing a set of small molecules with respect to the energy shift of the two-site DCH state and by extracting the relevant parameters from this shift.

A comprehensive photoabsorption, photoionization, and shake-up excitation study of the C 1s cross section of benzene

The absolute photoabsorption cross section of benzene (C6H6), encompassing the C 1s−1 π*e2u resonance, the C 1s threshold, the satellite thresholds, and extending up to 800 eV, has been measured using synchrotron radiation. Measurements of the discrete absorption structure from below the C 1s ionization threshold have been performed at high resolution. In order to unambiguously assign all structure present in the photoabsorption cross section, C 1s photoelectron spectra were measured from the C 1s threshold region up to 350 eV along with satellite spectra. The C 1s−1 single-hole and the satellite cross sections have been derived in absolute units, and their angular distributions have been determined. Resonant and normal Auger spectra were taken on the main features of the photoabsorption and single-hole cross sections. From the best resolved photoelectron spectra the underlying structure in the asymmetric benzene photoelectron peak can be partly disentangled. The experimental data show that at least two v...

Bond-distance-dependent decay probability of the N 1s →π* core-excited state in N2

We report the observation of the unusually weak decay of the N 1s --> pi* core-excited N-2 molecule to the (B) over tilde (2)Sigma(u)(+) final state of N-2(+), which is only detectable in an exp ...

From double-slit interference to structural information in simple hydrocarbons

Significance Electrons emitted from equivalent centers in isolated molecules via the photoelectric effect interfere, providing an atomic-scale equivalent of the celebrated Young’s double-slit experiment. We have developed a theoretical and experimental framework to characterize such interference phenomena accurately, and we have applied it to the simplest hydrocarbons with different bond lengths and bonding types. We demonstrate that such fundamental observations can be related to crucial structural information, such as chemical bond lengths, molecular orbital composition, and quantitative assessment of many-body effects, with a very high accuracy. The experimental and theoretical tools we use are relatively simple and easily accessible, and our method can readily be extended to larger systems, including molecules of biological interest. Interferences in coherent emission of photoelectrons from two equivalent atomic centers in a molecule are the microscopic analogies of the celebrated Young’s double-slit experiment. By considering inner-valence shell ionization in the series of simple hydrocarbons C2H2, C2H4, and C2H6, we show that double-slit interference is widespread and has built-in quantitative information on geometry, orbital composition, and many-body effects. A theoretical and experimental study is presented over the photon energy range of 70–700 eV. A strong dependence of the oscillation period on the C–C distance is observed, which can be used to determine bond lengths between selected pairs of equivalent atoms with an accuracy of at least 0.01 Å. Furthermore, we show that the observed oscillations are directly informative of the nature and atomic composition of the inner-valence molecular orbitals and that observed ratios are quantitative measures of elusive many-body effects. The technique and analysis can be immediately extended to a large class of compounds.

Vibrational excitation in C 1s and O 1s photoionization of CO

The C 1s and O 1s photoelectron spectra of the CO molecule have been measured with high resolution. The vibrational spacing of the state is significantly lower than in the state and in the molecular ground state. Compared to the ground-state equilibrium C - O distance of 1.128 A, we extract from the analysis of the Franck - Condon factors bond lengths of 1.079(2) A and 1.167(4) A for the C 1s and O 1s core-ionized states, respectively.

Anionic and cationic photofragmentation of core-excited N2O

We have measured all detectable cationic and anionic fragments in singlechannel mode from N2O as a function of photon energy in the vicinity of the nitrogen 1s core-level threshold. Due to the high degree of localization of the core electrons, the two excitations Nt1s → 3π∗ and Nc1s → 3π∗ show high levels of site-selective behaviour. The observed partial ion yield for the sole anionic fragment,O−, in conjunctionwith the partial cation yields,confirms our previous demonstration of anion-yield spectroscopy as a unique tool to identify core-level shape resonances.

Vibrationally resolved decay spectra of CO at the C and O K-edges: experiment and theory

The resonant Auger spectrum of CO has been measured at both the C and O K-edges. At the C resonance the decay spectrum was recorded selectively at the energies of the = 0, 1 and 2 vibrational states. Vibrational fine structure was not only resolved on the participator but also on the spectator lines. For the O resonance the photon energy bandwidth was sufficiently low that different, vibrationally distinct regions of the absorption profile could be selected. Ab initio calculations and their detailed analysis are presented for both the C and O decay spectra. At the C resonance the calculation explicitly accounts for the vibrational fine structure including vibrational-lifetime interference effects. The appearance of the spectator part of the spectrum is shown to be strongly influenced by the existence of unbound states and diabatic interactions. The nodal structure of the vibrational wavefunction of the core-excited state is reflected in the decay spectrum.

Femtosecond dissociation of ozone studied by the Auger Doppler effect

A Doppler-type shift in the kinetic energy of atomic Auger electrons emitted after fast dissociation of O3 molecules is observed. The resonant Auger spectrum from the decay of repulsive core-excited states reflects both the early molecular ozone decay and that from excited dissociation fragments. The kinetic energy of the fragment is manifested as an energy shift of the atomic Auger lines when the measurement is made under certain conditions. We report measurements of the energy-split atomic fragment emission lines arising from dissociation on a time scale comparable to the core-hole lifetime. For the O 1s–* states the kinetic energy release amounts to several electron volts. We report measurements for excitation of both the terminal and central oxygen 1s electrons. A simple kinematic model for extracting a lower limit for the kinetic-energy release is presented and is compared with the result of a Born–Haber cycle, which may be seen as an estimate of the maximum energy release