Measurements of dication lifetimes by translational energy spectrometry

Abstract

A new application of mass spectrometry to experimental studies of molecular dynamics has been developed and implemented in which ion translational energy spectrometry at very high angular resolutions is utilized to study the unimolecular dissociation of metastable dications. A brief overview is presented of the experimental technique, which utilizes a 'home-made', three-sector (equivalent to BEE geometry) instrument. The fragmention kinetic energy spectrum obtained using such apparatus is capable of yielding information on the lifetimes of specific quantal states of dications of a wide variety of stable and radical species; two illustrative examples (CO²⁺ and SH²⁺) are presented.