Dissociation mechanisms and dynamics of core-excited (N2O)n clusters

Dissociation of nitrous oxide clusters (N2O)(n), induced by core level excitation near the nitrogen K-edge was studied by time-of-flight (TOF) fragment mass spectroscopy. Besides the cluster ions (N2O)(n)(+) with n <= 26, we identified another series of NO(N2O)(m)(+) with m = 0-12 as well as O-2(+) and N-3(+) products characteristic of ion-molecule reactions within the clusters. Photoelectron-photoion-photoion-coincidence (PEPIPICO) technique was applied to study dissociation mechanisms and dynamics of core-excited (N2O)n clusters. Charge separation mechanisms of the doubly charged (N2O)(n)(2+) clusters by N-1(1s -> pi*) excitation were interpreted in terms of kinetic energy release (KER) and charge separation distance (CSD). (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.