Dependence on the Initial Configuration of Strong Field-Driven Isomerization of C2H2 Cations and Anions

• Published in: The journal of physical chemistry letters Vol. 10; no. 10; pp. 2320 - 2327
• Main Authors: Jochim, Bethany, Berry, Ben, Severt, T, Feizollah, Peyman, Zohrabi, M, P, Kanaka Raju, Wells, E, Carnes, K. D, Ben-Itzhak, I
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States American Chemical Society 16.05.2019
• Subjects: configuration; hydrogen migration; INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY; ion beam target; isomerization
• ISSN: 1948-7185; 1948-7185
• DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.9b00520

We have investigated the femtosecond laser-induced fragmentation of C2H2 q ion beam targets in various initial configurations, including acetylene (linear HCCH), vinylidene (H2CC), and cis/trans. The initial configuration is shown to have a tremendous impact on the branching ratio of acetylene-like (CH q 1 + CH q 2 ) and vinylidene-like (C q 1′ + CH2 q 2′) dissociation of a specific C2H2 q molecular ion. In particular, whereas C2H2 + generated from C2H2, a linear HCCH target, exhibits comparable levels of acetylene-like and vinylidene-like fragmentation, vinylidene or cis/trans configuration ion beams preferably undergo vinylidene-like fragmentation, with an acetylene branching ratio ranging from 13.9% to zero.