A photoelectron velocity map imaging spectrometer for experiments combining synchrotron and laser radiations

Area of Science:

• * Atomic and Molecular Physics
• * Chemical Physics
• * Spectroscopy

Background:

• * Pump-probe spectroscopy is crucial for studying ultrafast dynamics in molecules.
• * Combining synchrotron and laser radiation offers unique advantages for probing electronic and nuclear motion.
• * Existing spectrometers often face limitations in resolution and signal-to-noise for complex experiments.

Purpose of the Study:

• * To describe a newly developed velocity map imaging/ion time-of-flight spectrometer.
• * To detail its design for combined synchrotron and laser-based pump-probe experiments.
• * To highlight the capabilities of its versatile in-house built delay line detector.

Main Methods:

• * Development of a specialized velocity map imaging/ion time-of-flight spectrometer.
• * Implementation of an in-house built delay line detector with two operational modes: high spatial resolution and coincidence.
• * Integration of synchrotron and laser radiation sources for pump-probe studies.

Main Results:

• * Achieved a kinetic energy resolution of 6% in the high spatial resolution mode.
• * Demonstrated the utility of the coincidence mode for enhancing signal-to-noise ratios.
• * Enabled selective electron detection synchronized with laser pulses or ion formation.

Conclusions:

• * The described spectrometer is a powerful tool for advanced pump-probe investigations.
• * The dual-mode detector significantly improves data quality and experimental flexibility.
• * This instrument facilitates detailed studies of molecular dynamics with high precision.