The lack of electron momentum correlation in strong-field triple ionisation of molecules

Abstract

We report the results of direct measurements of electron momentum correlation in strong-field-driven molecular triple ionisation. With a camera-based imaging apparatus, measurement of quadruple coincidence (electron–electron–electron–ion) from non-dissociative triple ionisation of benzene and quintuple coincidence (electron–electron–electron–ion–ion) from dissociative triple ionisation of methyl iodide were carried out for the first time. We observed no evidence of momentum correlation among three ejected electrons, which suggests that a sequential triple ionisation process dominates under the employed experimental conditions.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

KEYWORDS:

• Electron correlation
• momentum correlation
• triple ionisation
• coincidence measurements
• strong-field ionisation

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The authors acknowledge the financial support by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Office of Science, Basic Energy Sciences (BES) [DE-SC0020994].