In this project in the Physical Chemistry Program of the Chemistry Division, Dunbar will study the photodissociation spectroscopy of polyatomic gas-phase ions by visible and ultraviolet light in a mass spectrometer. This research will lead to information concerning the photochemistry and photophysics of ions in the absence of solvation effects. The exceptional capabilities of the Ion Cyclotron Resonance trap with Fourier transform detection will be exploited to trap and detect ions. Several laser sources, including a system with high single-pulse energy, will be used to carry out single-pulse, multiple-pulse and continuous-irradiation experiments at a variety of wavelengths. The rate of dissociation following the laser pulse; the kinetic energies of the fragment ions; and the competition between different fragment channels will be studied.
