Abstract
Velocity map imaging has transformed our capabilities in terms of determining photofragmentation and photoionisation thresholds. Here, we present an investigation into the multi-photon dissociation and photoionisation dynamics of niobium monoxide (NbO) probed using velocity-map imaging via the C 4Σ– ← X4Σ– and B 4Π ← X4Σ- transitions. Analysis of the kinetic energy release spectra permits determination of refined values of the dissociation energies for NbO and NbO+ of 60,650 ± 124 and 57,414 ± 124 cm−1, respectively, in good agreement with previous values using other methods. With the same instrument, we have further recorded photoelectron images which exhibit a long progression assigned to the production of the ground state, X3Σ− NbO+ (v+), for which a vibrational constant of 1002 ± 11 cm−1 is determined.
GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT
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Acknowledgements
This work was supported by the UK EPSRC under programme grants EP/L005913 and EP/T021675/1. HK is grateful to the University of Oxford and Lincoln College, Oxford, for his Clarendon Scholarship.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).