Xueguang Ren

Fivefold differential cross sections for ground-state ionization of aligned H2 by electron impact

We discuss the ionization of aligned hydrogen molecules into their ionic ground state by 200 eV electrons. Using a reaction microscope, the complete electron scattering kinematics is imaged over a large solid angle. Simultaneously, the molecular alignment is derived from postcollision dissociation of the residual ion. It is found that the ionization cross section is maximized for small angles between the internuclear axis and the momentum transfer. Fivefold differential cross sections (5DCSs) reveal subtle differences in the scattering process for the distinct alignments. We compare our observations with theoretical 5DCSs obtained with an adapted molecular three-body distorted wave model that reproduces most of the results, although discrepancies remain.

Direct evidence of two interatomic relaxation mechanisms in argon dimers ionized by electron impact

In weakly bound systems like liquids and clusters electronically excited states can relax in inter-particle reactions via the interplay of electronic and nuclear dynamics. Here we report on the identification of two prominent examples, interatomic Coulombic decay (ICD) and radiative charge transfer (RCT), which are induced in argon dimers by electron collisions. After initial ionization of one dimer constituent ICD and RCT lead to the ionization of its neighbour either by energy transfer to or by electron transfer from the neighbour, respectively. By full quintuple-coincidence measurements, we unambiguously identify ICD and RCT, and trace the relaxation dynamics as function of the collisional excited state energies. Such interatomic processes multiply the number of electrons and shift their energies down to the critical 1–10 eV range, which can efficiently cause chemical degradation of biomolecules. Therefore, the observed relaxation channels might contribute to cause efficient radiation damage in biological systems.

An (e, 2e + ion) study of low-energy electron-impact ionization and fragmentation of tetrahydrofuran with high mass and energy resolutions.

We study the low-energy (E0 = 26 eV) electron-impact induced ionization and fragmentation of tetrahydrofuran using a reaction microscope. All three final-state charged particles, i.e., two outgoing electrons and one fragment ion, are detected in triple coincidence such that the momentum vectors and, consequently, the kinetic energies for charged reaction products are determined. The ionic fragments are clearly identified in the experiment with a mass resolution of 1 amu. The fragmentation pathways of tetrahydrofuran are investigated by measuring the ion kinetic energy spectra and the binding energy spectra where an energy resolution of 1.5 eV has been achieved using the recently developed photoemission electron source. Here, we will discuss the fragmentation reactions for the cations C4H8O(+), C4H7O(+), C2H3O(+), C3H6(+), C3H5(+), C3H3(+), CH3O(+), CHO(+), and C2H3(+).

Low energy (e, 2e) study from the 1t(2) orbital of CH4.

Single ionization of the methane (CH(4)) 1t(2) orbital by 54 eV electron impact has been studied experimentally and theoretically. The measured triple differential cross sections cover nearly a 4π solid angle for the emission of low energy electrons and a range of projectile scattering angles. Experimental data are compared with theoretical calculations from the distorted wave Born approximation and the molecular three-body distorted wave models. It is found that theory can give a proper description of the main features of experimental cross section only at smaller scattering angles. For larger scattering angles, significant discrepancies between experiment and theory are observed. The importance of the strength of nuclear scattering from the H-nuclei was theoretically tested by reducing the distance between the carbon nuclei and the hydrogen nuclei and improved agreement with experiment was found for both the scattering plane and the perpendicular plane.

Signatures of projectile?nucleus scattering in three-dimensional (e,2e) cross sections for argon

Electron impact ionization (E0 = 195 eV) of the 3p-orbital in argon is investigated experimentally and theoretically. The triple-differential cross sections (TDCS) obtained using a multi-particle momentum spectrometer (reaction microscope) cover more than 80% of the full solid angle for the slow emitted electron up to an energy of 25 eV and a range of projectile scattering angles from −5° to −15°. Inside the projectile scattering plane the TDCS shape is in rather good agreement with a hybrid distorted-wave plus R-matrix (DWBA-RM) calculation. Outside the scattering plane relatively strong electron emission is observed which is reproduced by theory in magnitude but not in shape. A systematic study of the TDCS behaviour and structure in this region indicates that its origin lies in high-order projectile−target interaction.

High-resolution (e, 2e + ion) study of electron-impact ionization and fragmentation of methane

The ionization and fragmentation of methane induced by low-energy (E0 = 66 eV) electron-impact is investigated using a reaction microscope. The momentum vectors of all three charged final state particles, two outgoing electrons, and one fragment ion, are detected in coincidence. Compared to the earlier study [Xu et al., J. Chem. Phys. 138, 134307 (2013)], considerable improvements to the instrumental mass and energy resolutions have been achieved. The fragment products CH4 (+), CH3 (+), CH2 (+), CH(+), and C(+) are clearly resolved. The binding energy resolution of ΔE = 2.0 eV is a factor of three better than in the earlier measurements. The fragmentation channels are investigated by measuring the ion kinetic energy distributions and the binding energy spectra. While being mostly in consistence with existing photoionization studies the results show differences including missing fragmentation channels and previously unseen channels.

An (e, 2e + ion) investigation of dissociative ionization of methane.

We present in this paper an (e, 2e + ion) investigation of the dissociative ionization of methane by 54 eV electron impact employing the advanced reaction microscope. By measuring two electrons and the ion in the final state in triple coincidence, the species of the ions are identified and the energies deposited into the target are determined. The species and the kinetic energies of the fragmented ion show strong dependence on the intermediate states of the parent ion. Possible decay pathways for the production of different species of ions are analyzed.

Experimental and theoretical study of electron-impact ionization plus excitation of aligned H2

We report quadruple differential cross sections for electron-impact ionization of with simultaneous excitation of the ion which will immediately dissociate. The alignment of the molecule is determined by detecting the emitted proton. The first measurements of this type were recently reported (2013 Phys. Rev. A 88 062705). Here we report measurements with much better angular resolution using the COLTRIMS method. Experimental results are compared with molecular 4-body distorted wave calculations and reasonably good agreement between experiment and theory is found.

Momentum imaging of dissociative electron attachment in biologically relevant molecules

We measured dissociative electron attachment in biologically relevant molecules using momentum imaging for negative ions in an apparatus that combines high resolutions of impact energy, fragment mass and fragment momentum. First investigations of the production of NH2−-ions around the A1 resonance at 5.7 eV impact energy show a clear dependence of the distribution of fragment dissociation angles on the projectile energy.

Electron impact dissociative ionization of methane: Formation of protons

Production of protons from dissociative ionization of methane by electron impact is investigated using the reaction microscope. By the triple coincidence measurement of all the three charged particles in the final state, we found that the (2a1)−1(npt2)1, (2a1)−1, (1t2)−2(3a1)1 and (2a1)−2(3a1)1 states of the intermediate CH4+ give major contributions to the formation of protons, and each state dissociates in a different mechanism.