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 O2+ and N3+ 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)n2+ clusters by Nt(1s → π*) excitation were interpreted in terms of kinetic energy release (KER) and charge separation distance (CSD).