Photodissociation dynamics and energetics of small gas phase cluster ions

A crossed ion beam/laser beam apparatus has been constructed that allows determination of photodissociation properties of mass selected ion beams. The photo products are subjected to mass and energy analysis using an electrostatic analyser. Product branching ratios and accurate kinetic energy distributions are obtained. In favorable cases product internal state distributions are also obtained. Variation of the laser polarization allows determination of the nature of the dissociating transition, information on the lifetime of the photoexcited state, and the photofragment dissociation dynamics in the center of mass frame. Data has been obtained on approximately 15 clusters. Sample results are given, including those for (Mn)+2, (SO2)+2 and KrO+2