Coincidence Studies: From Molecular Ions to Nanoparticles

Linear electrostatic traps are a powerful experimental tool with applications ranging from experimental studies of the molecular reaction dynamics of four-atom systems using photoelectron-photofragment coincidence (PPC) studies to massive (micron-sized) particles. Examples of applications to molecular reaction dynamics will be provided by our recent study of the dissociative photodetachment of the F¯(H₂O) anion. In concert with state-of-the-art theory, these benchmark studies are providing a foundation for a first-principles understanding of ever-more complex chemical phenomena. To illustrate applications to nanoparticles, a new nanoparticle accelerator/decelerator capable of preparing single mass- and charge-selected nanoparticles for impact studies on surfaces will be discussed.

This work was supported by the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science, Office of Basic Energy Sciences under Award Number DE-FG03-98ER14879 and the NSF Division of Chemistry under grant CHE-1229690.