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Circular dichroism in K-shell ionization from fixed-in-space CO and N2 molecules
T Jahnke1, Th Weber, A L Landers
1Institut für Kernphysik, University Frankfurt, August-Euler Strasse 6, D-60486 Frankfurt, Germany.
Physical Review Letters
|February 28, 2002
Summary
We measured how electrons scatter from CO and N2 molecules using polarized light. A significant circular dichroism was observed, showing sensitivity to light
Area of Science:
- Molecular physics
- Quantum chemistry
Background:
- Photoelectron spectroscopy probes molecular electronic structure.
- Shape resonances significantly influence photoionization dynamics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate circular dichroism in fixed-in-space CO and N2 molecules.
- To study photoelectron angular distributions near shape resonances.
Main Methods:
- Measurement of 1s photoelectron angular distributions using circularly and linearly polarized light.
- Theoretical calculations using one-electron multiple scattering and random phase approximation methods.
Main Results:
- Strong circular dichroism observed for both CO and N2 molecules.
- Experimental data shows a dependence on the photon polarization vector's rotation sense.
- Theoretical calculations show good agreement with most experimental findings.
Conclusions:
- Circular dichroism is a sensitive probe of molecular photoionization.
- Theoretical models capture key aspects of the observed phenomena.
- Discrepancies between theory and experiment highlight areas for further investigation.