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Küpper, J.

Publications and source records attributed to Küpper, J..

Fragmentation Dynamics of Fluorene Explored Using Ultrafast XUV-Vis Pump-Probe Spectroscopy

We report on the use of extreme ultraviolet (XUV, 30.3 nm) radiation from the Free-electron LASer in Hamburg (FLASH) and visible (Vis, 405 nm) photons from an optical laser to investigate the relaxation and fragmentation dynamics of fluorene ions. The ultrashort laser pulses allow to resolve the molecular processes occurring on the femtosecond timescales. Fluorene is a prototypical small polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH). Through their infrared emission signature, PAHs have been shown to be ubiquitous in the universe, and they are assumed to play an important role in the chemistry of the interstellar medium. Our experiments track the ionization and dissociative ionization products of fluorene through time-of-flight mass spectrometry and velocity-map imaging. Multiple processes involved in the formation of each of the fragment ions are disentangled through analysis of the ion images. The relaxation lifetimes of the excited fluorene monocation and dication obtained through the fragment formation channels are reported to be in the range of a few tens of femtoseconds to a few picoseconds.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Time-resolved relaxation and fragmentation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons investigated in the ultrafast $\mathrm{XUV}$-$\mathrm{IR}$ regime

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) play an important role in interstellar chemistry and are subject to high energy photons that can induce excitation, ionization, and fragmentation. Previous studies have demonstrated electronic relaxation of parent PAH monocations over 10–100 femtoseconds as a result of beyond-Born-Oppenheimer coupling between the electronic and nuclear dynamics. Here, we investigate three PAH molecules: fluorene, phenanthrene, and pyrene, using ultrafast XUV and IR laser pulses. Simultaneous measurements of the ion yields, ion momenta, and electron momenta as a function of laser pulse delay allow a detailed insight into the various molecular processes. We report relaxation times for the electronically excited PAH * , PAH +* and PAH 2+* states, and show the time-dependent conversion between fragmentation pathways. Additionally, using recoil-frame covariance analysis between ion images, we demonstrate that the dissociation of the PAH 2+ ions favors reaction pathways involving two-body breakup and/or loss of neutral fragments totaling an even number of carbon atoms.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

High intensity x-ray interaction with a model bio-molecule system: double-core-hole states and fragmentation of formamide

Formamide, a simple model bio-molecule (HCONH 2 ), is irradiated with high intensity, ultrashort pulses from an x-ray free electron laser. Ionic fragments resulting from photoionization and subsequent decay processes are recorded, as well as the electronic signature of the different inner shell ionization events that can take place during the x-ray pulses. Additionally, the formation of double-core-hole states, where a second inner shell electron is removed before the first core hole has been refilled is observed in the electron spectra, recorded at all three sites (C, N, O) of the molecule. The individual ionization potentials are compared with results of ab initio calculations at different level of theory. Based on our results, future opportunities for advanced studies of inner-shell-induced electronic and nuclear dynamics are explored.

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS↗

PymePix : a python library for SPIDR readout of Timepix3

PymePix is a new Python 3 library that provides control and acquisition for the Timepix3-SPIDR hardware. The rich set of data-structures and intuitive routines reduces time and coding effort to quickly configure, acquire, and visualize data from Timepix3. The highly extensible high-performance data-pipeline allows for alteration of the Timepix3 datastream into a form that is convinient for the user. This library is intended to be easily inserted into a standard scientific software stack as well as to allow for more direct interaction of Timepix3 with interactive flavors of Python. Included with the library are two example programs using PymePix: pymepix-acq is a command line control and acquisition program that can capture UDP packets and decode them into pixels and triggers. The second is pymepixviewer, an online control and data-acquisition program for general use, but with features geared toward mass-spectroscopy and ion imaging.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

First demonstration of 3D optical readout of a TPC using a single photon sensitive Timepix3 based camera

The ARIADNE project is developing innovative optical readout technologies for two-phase liquid Argon time projection chambers (LArTPCs). Optical readout presents an exciting alternative to the current paradigm of charge readout. Optical readout is simple, scalable and cost effective. This paper presents first demonstration of 3D optical readout of TPC, using CF 4 gas as a proof of principle. Both cosmic rays and an Americium-241 alpha source have been imaged in 100 mbar CF 4 . A single-photon sensitive camera was developed by combining a Timepix3 (TPX3) based camera with an image intensifier. When a pixel of TPX3 is hit, a packet containing all information about the hit is produced. This packet contains the x , y coordinates of the pixel, time of arrival (ToA) and time over threshold (ToT) information. Here, the z position of the hit in the TPC is determined by combining drift velocity with ToA information. 3D event reconstruction is performed by combining the pixels x , y location with this calculated z position. Calorimetry is performed using time over threshold, a measure of the intensity of the hit.

3D↗