Two-body Coulomb explosion in methylacetylene in intense laser fields: double proton migration and proton/deuteron exchange

Phys Chem Chem Phys. 2012 Mar 28;14(12):4230-5. doi: 10.1039/c2cp23880b. Epub 2012 Feb 15.

Abstract

Two-body decomposition processes of methylacetylene (CH(3)CCH) and its isotopomer methyl-d(3)-acetylene (CD(3)CCH) in intense laser fields (790 nm, 40 fs, 5.0 × 10(13) W cm(-2)) are investigated by the coincidence momentum imaging (CMI). In methyl-d(3)-acetylene, a total of six decomposition pathways in which one of the C-C bonds is broken and a total of six pathways in which an atomic hydrogen ion (H(+) or D(+)) or a molecular hydrogen ion (H(2)(+), HD(+), D(3)(+), or HD(2)(+)) is ejected are identified. It is revealed from the analysis of the CMI data that the migration of two deuterons as well as the exchange between a proton and a deuteron occurs prior to the two-body decomposition of a doubly charged parent molecule.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Alkynes / chemistry*
  • Deuterium / chemistry*
  • Deuterium Exchange Measurement
  • Lasers*
  • Protons*

Substances

  • Alkynes
  • Protons
  • methylacetylene
  • Deuterium