A coincidence detection algorithm for improving detection rates in coulomb explosion imaging

A scheme for determining true coincidence events in Coulomb Explosion Imaging experiments is reported and compared with a simple design used in recently published work. The new scheme is able to identify any possible coincidence without the use of a priori knowledge of the fragmentation mechanism. Using experimental data from the triatomic molecule OCS, the advanced algorithm is shown to improve acquisition yield by a factor of between 2 and 6 depending on the amount of a priori knowledge included in the simple design search. Monte Carlo simulations for both systems suggest that detection yield can be improved by increasing the number of molecules in the laser focus from the standard ≤1 up to 3.5 and employing the advanced algorithm. Count rates for larger molecules would be preferentially improved with the rate for 6 atom molecules improved by a factor of up to five.