Photoelectron–multiple-photofragment coincidence spectrometer

Abstract

A new photoelectron–photofragment-coincidence spectrometer is described. Using a multiparticle time- and position-sensitive detector, this apparatus allows the study of dissociation processes of negative ions yielding three photofragments in coincidence with a photoelectron. The photoelectron spectrometer uses two detectors and works in time of flight mode, detecting 10% of the photoelectrons with an energy resolution of 5% at 1.3 eV as shown in studies of the photodetachment of O2−. A third detector is used for collection of multiple photofragments (up to 8) in coincidence. This multiparticle detector uses a crossed-delay-line anode and fast timing signals to encode the time- and position-of-arrival of multiple photofragments. The detector was demonstrated to record all three particles produced in a single three-body dissociation event, yielding an energy resolution of ≈15% ΔE/E at 0.7 eV in experiments on the three-body dissociative photodetachment of O6−.