D 3 + formation through photoionization of the molecular D 2 -D 2 dimer

The H -H molecular dimer is of fundamental importance in the study of chemical interactions because of its unique bonding properties and its ability to model more complex systems. The trihydrogen cation H is also a key intermediate in a range of chemical processes in interstellar environments, such...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Nature chemistry 2023-06
Main Authors: Mi, Yonghao, Wang, Enliang, Dube, Zack, Wang, Tian, Naumov, A Y, Villeneuve, D M, Corkum, P B, Staudte, André
Format: Article
Language:English
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Summary:The H -H molecular dimer is of fundamental importance in the study of chemical interactions because of its unique bonding properties and its ability to model more complex systems. The trihydrogen cation H is also a key intermediate in a range of chemical processes in interstellar environments, such as the formation of various organic molecules and early stars. However, the unexpected high abundance of H in molecular clouds remains challenging to explain. Here using near-infrared, femtosecond laser pulses and coincidence momentum imaging, we find that the dominant channel after photoionization of a deuterium molecular dimer (D -D ) is the ejection of a deuterium atom within a few hundred femtoseconds, leading to the formation of D . The formation mechanism is supported and well-reproduced by ab initio molecular dynamics simulations. This pathway of D formation from ultracold D -D gas may provide insights into the high abundance of H in the interstellar medium.
ISSN:1755-4349