Experimental method to track tens of reaction pathways with femtosecond time resolution.

What is it about?

Here we describe an approach that can be used to track multiple (from tens to hundreds) of products from a highly energetic chemical reaction simultaneously. The method is described for experiments following single or multiple ionization by an ultrafast photon or by strong field-ionization, however, it can be used for neutrals as well. Following activation, instead of using a selective probe laser that is tuned to track a specific product, we use a non-resonant weak probe pulse that disrupts the yield of all the products. The change in ion yield at a specific m/z (or fluorescent transition) as a function of time provides information about the formation of that product. The dynamics including rise and decay as well as coherent vibrational motion with specific frequency and phase can then be used to learn about the intermediate (transition state) species that lead to the product and its formation time.

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Why is it important?

This is one of the few if not the only experimental method capable of acquiring time-resolved information for tends or hundreds of different product simultaneously. It can be used following any type of excitation including strong-field ionization, tunnel ionization, non-sequential double ionization, EUV or X-ray photon excitation, and even electron ionization by an ultrafast electron pulse.

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