A velocity map imaging study of multiphoton photodissociation and photoionisation dynamics in niobium oxide, NbO

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

KEYWORDS:

• Velocity map imaging
• metal oxide
• dissociation energy
• photodissociation
• photoionisation

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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).

Additional information

Funding

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.