Photoion-pair dissociation dynamics of polyatomic molecules with synchrotron radiation

Abstract

Positive–negative photoion pairs can be formed in the photoexcitation of molecules in the broad energy range from vacuum ultraviolet to soft X-ray. Synchrotron radiation is the most suitable photon source and state-of-the-art mass spectrometry techniques have been successfully applied in the experimental studies of such ion-pair photodissociation dynamics. This perspective will briefly review the recent progress on this topic and provide a general description of the mechanisms of ion-pair photodissociation dynamics of polyatomic molecules. Challenges in the understanding of ion-pair photodissociation in the higher photon energy range are also discussed.