Interaction of Ionizing Photons with Atomic and Molecular Ions

A special issue of Atoms (ISSN 2218-2004).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (16 November 2020) | Viewed by 32699

Printed Edition Available!
A printed edition of this Special Issue is available here.

Special Issue Editors

School of Physical Sciences, Dublin City University, D09 V209 Dublin 9, Ireland
Interests: photoionization of atomic and molecular ions; applications of laser-produced plasmas; spectroscopy of ions; LIBS
School of Physical Sciences, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin 9, Ireland
Interests: photoionization of atomic and molecular ions; applications of laser-produced plasmas; spectroscopy of ions; LIBS
School of Physical Sciences, Dublin City University, D09 V209 Dublin 9, Ireland
Interests: photoionization of atomic and molecular ions; applications of laser-produced plasmas; spectroscopy of ions

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Studies of photoionization provide information on the inverse processes of radiative and dielectronic recombination, important in many laboratory and astrophysical plasmas. Problems in upper atmospheric physics and chemistry and new astrophysical observations extending into the X-ray region require continuing laboratory-based experiments to produce key interpretative data.

Laser plasma, HHG, synchrotron, and FEL sources provide complementary capabilities and new theoretical approaches interpret the wide spectrum of results on atomic ions achievable with these light sources. Studies of the photoionization of molecular ions (and variable size clusters) have been initiated and are expected to become of increasing importance in the future.

This Special Issue will include original and review papers over the broad range of photoionization studies achievable with atomic and molecular ions, including experiments on relative and/or absolute cross-sections, linear, and nonlinear behaviors, new instrumental and facility developments, and current theoretical challenges. Studies directed towards important laboratory and astrophysical plasma requirements are also welcome.

Prof. Emeritus Eugene T Kennedy
Prof. John T Costello
Assoc. Prof. Jean-Paul Mosnier
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Atoms is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1500 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • Photoionization
  • Photoabsorption
  • Atomic ions
  • Molecular ions
  • Inner-shell
  • Cross-sections
  • Multi-photon
  • Multi-electron
  • Ion spectroscopy
  • Short-wavelength light sources
  • Electron correlations
  • Photon-ion interactions
  • Femtosecond
  • Attosecond
  • Strong fields
  • Ultrafast
  • Astrophysical spectra
  • Astrophysical processes

Published Papers (14 papers)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Editorial

Jump to: Research, Review, Other

4 pages, 191 KiB  
Editorial
Special Issue “Interaction of Ionizing Photons with Atomic and Molecular Ions”
by Eugene T. Kennedy, John T. Costello and Jean-Paul Mosnier
Atoms 2021, 9(4), 111; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/atoms9040111 - 13 Dec 2021
Viewed by 1751
Abstract
The interaction of ionizing photons with atoms or ions is a fundamental process in nature, with laboratory, atmospheric and astrophysical implications [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Interaction of Ionizing Photons with Atomic and Molecular Ions)

Research

Jump to: Editorial, Review, Other

18 pages, 2416 KiB  
Article
Photoionization Cross-Sections of Carbon-Like N+ Near the K-Edge (390–440 eV)
by Jean-Paul Mosnier, Eugene T. Kennedy, Jean-Marc Bizau, Denis Cubaynes, Ségolène Guilbaud, Christophe Blancard and Brendan M. McLaughlin
Atoms 2021, 9(2), 27; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/atoms9020027 - 11 May 2021
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2537
Abstract
High-resolution K-shell photoionization cross-sections for the C-like atomic nitrogen ion (N+) are reported in the 398 eV (31.15 Å) to 450 eV (27.55 Å) energy (wavelength) range. The results were obtained from absolute ion-yield measurements using the SOLEIL synchrotron radiation facility [...] Read more.
High-resolution K-shell photoionization cross-sections for the C-like atomic nitrogen ion (N+) are reported in the 398 eV (31.15 Å) to 450 eV (27.55 Å) energy (wavelength) range. The results were obtained from absolute ion-yield measurements using the SOLEIL synchrotron radiation facility for spectral bandpasses of 65 meV or 250 meV. In the photon energy region 398–403 eV, 1s2p autoionizing resonance states dominated the cross section spectrum. Analyses of the experimental profiles yielded resonance strengths and Auger widths. In the 415–440 eV photon region 1s(1s2s22p2 4P)np and 1s(1s2s22p2 2P)np resonances forming well-developed Rydberg series up n=7 and n=8 , respectively, were identified in both the single and double ionization spectra. Theoretical photoionization cross-section calculations, performed using the R-matrix plus pseudo-states (RMPS) method and the multiconfiguration Dirac-Fock (MCDF) approach were bench marked against these high-resolution experimental results. Comparison of the state-of-the-art theoretical work with the experimental studies allowed the identification of new resonance features. Resonance strengths, energies and Auger widths (where available) are compared quantitatively with the theoretical values. Contributions from excited metastable states of the N+ ions were carefully considered throughout. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Interaction of Ionizing Photons with Atomic and Molecular Ions)
Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 1109 KiB  
Article
Multiple Sequential Ionization of Valence n = 4 Shell of Krypton by Intense Femtosecond XUV Pulses
by Elena V. Gryzlova, Maksim D. Kiselev, Maria M. Popova, Anton A. Zubekhin, Giuseppe Sansone and Alexei N. Grum-Grzhimailo
Atoms 2020, 8(4), 80; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/atoms8040080 - 12 Nov 2020
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2004
Abstract
Sequential photoionization of krypton by intense extreme ultraviolet femtosecond pulses is studied theoretically for the photon energies below the 3d excitation threshold. This regime with energetically forbidden Auger decay is characterized by special features, such as time scaling of the level population. [...] Read more.
Sequential photoionization of krypton by intense extreme ultraviolet femtosecond pulses is studied theoretically for the photon energies below the 3d excitation threshold. This regime with energetically forbidden Auger decay is characterized by special features, such as time scaling of the level population. The model is based on the solution of rate equations with photoionization cross sections of krypton in different charge and multiplet states determined using R-matrix calculations. Predictions of the ion yields and photoelectron spectra for various photon fluence are presented and discussed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Interaction of Ionizing Photons with Atomic and Molecular Ions)
Show Figures

Figure 1

21 pages, 3600 KiB  
Article
An Investigation of Laser Produced Lead-Tin Alloy Plasmas between 10 and 18 nm
by Enda Scally, Fergal O’Reilly, Patrick Hayden, Isaac Tobin and Gerry O’Sullivan
Atoms 2020, 8(4), 75; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/atoms8040075 - 20 Oct 2020
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2474
Abstract
The results of a systematic study performed on Pb-Sn alloys of concentration 65–35% and 94–6% by weight along with spectra from pure Pb and Sn in the wavelength range of 9.8–18 nm are presented. The dynamics of the Nd:YAG laser produced plasma were [...] Read more.
The results of a systematic study performed on Pb-Sn alloys of concentration 65–35% and 94–6% by weight along with spectra from pure Pb and Sn in the wavelength range of 9.8–18 nm are presented. The dynamics of the Nd:YAG laser produced plasma were changed by varying the focused spot size and input energy of the laser pulse; the laser irradiance at the target varied from 7.3 × 109 W cm−2 to 1.2 × 1012 W cm−2. The contributing ion stages and line emission are identified using the steady state collisional radiative model of Colombant and Tonon, and the Cowan suite of atomic structure codes. The Sn spectrum was dominated in each case by the well-known unresolved transition array (UTA) near 13.5 nm. However, a surprising result was the lack of any enhancement or narrowing of this feature at low concentrations of Sn in the alloy spectra whose emission was essentially dominated by Pb ions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Interaction of Ionizing Photons with Atomic and Molecular Ions)
Show Figures

Figure 1

17 pages, 1544 KiB  
Article
Vibrationally and Spin-Orbit-Resolved Inner-Shell X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy of the NH+ Molecular Ion: Measurements and ab Initio Calculations
by Stéphane Carniato, Jean-Marc Bizau, Denis Cubaynes, Eugene T. Kennedy, Ségolène Guilbaud, Emma Sokell, Brendan McLaughlin and Jean-Paul Mosnier
Atoms 2020, 8(4), 67; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/atoms8040067 - 04 Oct 2020
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2940
Abstract
This article presents N2+ fragment yields following nitrogen K-shell photo-absorption in the NH+ molecular ion measured at the SOLEIL synchrotron radiation facility in the photon energy region 390–450 eV. The combination of the high sensitivity of the merged-beam, multi-analysis ion apparatus [...] Read more.
This article presents N2+ fragment yields following nitrogen K-shell photo-absorption in the NH+ molecular ion measured at the SOLEIL synchrotron radiation facility in the photon energy region 390–450 eV. The combination of the high sensitivity of the merged-beam, multi-analysis ion apparatus (MAIA) with the high spectral resolution of the PLEIADES beamline helped to resolve experimentally vibrational structures of highly excited [N1s−1H]*+ electronic states with closed or open-shell configurations. The assignment of the observed spectral features was achieved with the help of density functional theory (DFT) and post-Hartree Fock Multiconfiguration Self-Consistent-Field/Configuration Interaction (MCSCF/CI) ab-initio theoretical calculations of the N1s core-to-valence and core-to-Rydberg excitations, including vibrational dynamics. New resonances were identified compared to previous work, owing to detailed molecular modeling of the vibrational, spin-orbit coupling and metastable state effects on the spectra. The latter are evidenced by spectral contributions from the 4Σ electronic state which lies 0.07 eV above the NH+2Π ground state. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Interaction of Ionizing Photons with Atomic and Molecular Ions)
Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 960 KiB  
Article
Spin-Polarized Photoelectron Fluxes from Fullerene Anions
by Valeriy K. Dolmatov
Atoms 2020, 8(4), 65; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/atoms8040065 - 29 Sep 2020
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2085
Abstract
Initial insights into spin-polarized photoelectron fluxes from fullerene anions are presented here. Both the angle-dependent and angle-integrated degrees of spin polarization of said photoelectron fluxes are discussed. Empty C60(2p) and endohedral H@C [...] Read more.
Initial insights into spin-polarized photoelectron fluxes from fullerene anions are presented here. Both the angle-dependent and angle-integrated degrees of spin polarization of said photoelectron fluxes are discussed. Empty C60(2p) and endohedral H@C60(2p) and He@C60(2p) anions, where the attached electron resides in a 2p state, are chosen as case studies. We uncover the characteristics of the phenomenon in the framework of a semi-empirical methodology where the C60 cage is modeled by a spherical annular potential, rather than aiming at a rigorous study. It is found that the spin-polarization degree of photoelectron fluxes from fullerene anions can reach large values, including a nearly complete polarization, at/in specific values/domains of the photoelectron momentum. This is shown to correlate with an inherent feature of photoionization of fullerenes, the abundance of resonances, known as confinement resonances, in their photodetachment spectra owing to a large empty space inside fullerenes. Moreover, the results obtained can serve as a touchstone for future studies of the phenomenon by more rigorous theories and/or experiments to reveal the significance of interactions omitted in the present study. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Interaction of Ionizing Photons with Atomic and Molecular Ions)
Show Figures

Figure 1

11 pages, 2377 KiB  
Article
Modification of a Cylindrical Mirror Analyzer for High Efficiency Photoelectron Spectroscopy on Ion Beams
by Francis Penent, Denis Cubaynes, Pascal Lablanquie, Jérôme Palaudoux, Ségolène Guilbaud, Olivier Moustier, Jérôme Guigand and Jean-Marc Bizau
Atoms 2020, 8(4), 63; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/atoms8040063 - 25 Sep 2020
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2320
Abstract
An existing cylindrical mirror analyzer (CMA) that was initially equipped with eight channeltrons detectors has been modified to install large micro-channel plate detectors to perform parallel detection of electrons on an energy range corresponding to ~12% of the mean pass energy. This analyzer [...] Read more.
An existing cylindrical mirror analyzer (CMA) that was initially equipped with eight channeltrons detectors has been modified to install large micro-channel plate detectors to perform parallel detection of electrons on an energy range corresponding to ~12% of the mean pass energy. This analyzer is dedicated to photoelectron spectroscopy of ions ionized by synchrotron radiation. The overall detection efficiency is increased by a factor of ~20 compared to the original analyzer. A proof of principle of the efficiency of the analyzer has been done for Xe5+ and Si+ ions and will allow photoelectron spectroscopy on many other ionic species. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Interaction of Ionizing Photons with Atomic and Molecular Ions)
Show Figures

Figure 1

9 pages, 388 KiB  
Article
Inner-Shell Photodetachment of Na Using R-Matrix Methods
by T. W. Gorczyca, H.-L. Zhou, A. Hibbert, M. F. Hasoglu and S. T. Manson
Atoms 2020, 8(3), 60; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/atoms8030060 - 21 Sep 2020
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2176
Abstract
Inner-shell photodetachment of Na near the L-edge threshold was investigated using the R-matrix method. Significant structure was found in the cross section, and this structure is shown to be related to the complicated correlated electron dynamics endemic in negative ions. Comparison with [...] Read more.
Inner-shell photodetachment of Na near the L-edge threshold was investigated using the R-matrix method. Significant structure was found in the cross section, and this structure is shown to be related to the complicated correlated electron dynamics endemic in negative ions. Comparison with experiment suggests that the absolute values of the measured cross section might be too small by a factor of two. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Interaction of Ionizing Photons with Atomic and Molecular Ions)
Show Figures

Figure 1

8 pages, 1063 KiB  
Article
The 5d-6p VUV Photoabsorption Spectrum of Bi+
by Hu Lu, Lazaros Varvarezos, Patrick Hayden, Eugene T Kennedy, Jean-Paul Mosnier and John T Costello
Atoms 2020, 8(3), 55; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/atoms8030055 - 04 Sep 2020
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2352
Abstract
The photoabsorption spectrum of Bi+ was measured in the wavelength range between 37 and 60 nm, using the dual laser plasma technique in which one plasma is used as the source of vacuum ultraviolet continuum radiation and the other plasma is used [...] Read more.
The photoabsorption spectrum of Bi+ was measured in the wavelength range between 37 and 60 nm, using the dual laser plasma technique in which one plasma is used as the source of vacuum ultraviolet continuum radiation and the other plasma is used as the sample of atoms and/or ions to be probed. A number of features in the Bi+ spectrum was identified with the aid of the Cowan suite of atomic codes. The 5d → 6p transitions from the ground configuration (5d106s26p2) gave rise to the most prominent features in the measured spectrum. Transitions from low-lying excited states associated with the four excited configurations, 5d106s26p6d, 5d106s26p7s, 5d106s26p7p and 5d106s6p3, were found to make small contributions to the observed spectrum in the 47–50 nm spectral region. To the best of our knowledge, for Bi+, this spectral region is rather unexplored and spectroscopic data are absent from the literature. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Interaction of Ionizing Photons with Atomic and Molecular Ions)
Show Figures

Figure 1

10 pages, 568 KiB  
Article
Photoelectron Angular Distributions of Nonresonant Two-Photon Atomic Ionization Near Nonlinear Cooper Minima
by Jiri Hofbrucker, Latifeh Eiri, Andrey V. Volotka and Stephan Fritzsche
Atoms 2020, 8(3), 54; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/atoms8030054 - 03 Sep 2020
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2308
Abstract
Photoelectron angular distributions of the two-photon ionization of neutral atoms are theoretically investigated. Numerical calculations of two-photon ionization cross sections and asymmetry parameters are carried out within the independent-particle approximation and relativistic second-order perturbation theory. The dependence of the asymmetry parameters on the [...] Read more.
Photoelectron angular distributions of the two-photon ionization of neutral atoms are theoretically investigated. Numerical calculations of two-photon ionization cross sections and asymmetry parameters are carried out within the independent-particle approximation and relativistic second-order perturbation theory. The dependence of the asymmetry parameters on the polarization and energy of the incident light as well as on the angular momentum properties of the ionized electron are investigated. While dynamic variations of the angular distributions at photon energies near intermediate level resonances are expected, we demonstrate that equally strong variations occur near the nonlinear Cooper minimum. The described phenomena is demonstrated on the example of two-photon ionization of magnesium atom. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Interaction of Ionizing Photons with Atomic and Molecular Ions)
Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 434 KiB  
Article
Investigation of a Collisional Radiative Model for Laser-Produced Plasmas
by Nicholas L. Wong, Fergal O’Reilly and Emma Sokell
Atoms 2020, 8(3), 52; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/atoms8030052 - 01 Sep 2020
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2671 | Correction
Abstract
Plasmas of a variety of types can be described by the collisional radiative (CR) model developed by Colombant and Tonan. From the CR model, the ion distribution of a plasma at a given electron temperature and density can be found. This information is [...] Read more.
Plasmas of a variety of types can be described by the collisional radiative (CR) model developed by Colombant and Tonan. From the CR model, the ion distribution of a plasma at a given electron temperature and density can be found. This information is useful for further simulations, and due to this, the employment of a suitable CR model is important. Specifically, ionization bottlenecks, where there are enhanced populations of certain charge states, can be seen in these ion distributions, which in some applications are important in maintaining large amounts of a specific ion. The present work was done by implementing an accepted CR model, proposed by Colombant and Tonon, in Python and investigating the effects of variations in the ionization energy and outermost electron subshell occupancy term on the positions of ionization bottlenecks. Laser Produced Plasmas created using a Nd:YAG laser with an electron density of ∼ne = 1021 cm−3 were the focus of this work. Plots of the collisional ionization, radiative recombination, and three-body recombination rate coefficients as well as the ion distribution and peak fractional ion population for various elements were examined. From these results, it is evident that using ionization energies from the NIST database and removing the orbital occupancy term in the CR model produced results with ionization bottlenecks in expected locations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Interaction of Ionizing Photons with Atomic and Molecular Ions)
Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 479 KiB  
Article
Effects of the FEL Fluctuations on the 2s2p Li+ Auto-Ionization Lineshape
by Tejaswi Katravulapally and Lampros A. A. Nikolopoulos
Atoms 2020, 8(3), 35; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/atoms8030035 - 14 Jul 2020
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2458
Abstract
The photoionization of Lithium (Li+) via its doubly-excited state 2s2p 1P in intense free electron laser (FEL) radiation is studied. A recently developed perturbative statistical description of the atomic dynamics is used to calculate the ionization yield. It is observed [...] Read more.
The photoionization of Lithium (Li+) via its doubly-excited state 2s2p 1P in intense free electron laser (FEL) radiation is studied. A recently developed perturbative statistical description of the atomic dynamics is used to calculate the ionization yield. It is observed that the FEL temporal fluctuations affect the lineshape significantly, strongly dependent on the product of the pulse’s coherence time with its intensity, τcI0, which is a measure of the effect of the field in one correlation time. The weak-field long-pulse asymmetric resonant Fano-profile is broadened to resemble a Voight profile. As the intensity increases, the subsequent ionization of Li2+ takes over and causes further distortion of the lineshape for Li+. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Interaction of Ionizing Photons with Atomic and Molecular Ions)
Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Editorial, Research, Other

17 pages, 2879 KiB  
Review
Photoionization of Astrophysically Relevant Atomic Ions at PIPE
by Stefan Schippers and Alfred Müller
Atoms 2020, 8(3), 45; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/atoms8030045 - 18 Aug 2020
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2666
Abstract
We review recent work on the photoionization of atomic ions of astrophysical interest that has been carried out at the photon-ion merged-beams setup PIPE, a permanently installed end station at the XUV beamline P04 of the PETRA III synchrotron radiation source operated by [...] Read more.
We review recent work on the photoionization of atomic ions of astrophysical interest that has been carried out at the photon-ion merged-beams setup PIPE, a permanently installed end station at the XUV beamline P04 of the PETRA III synchrotron radiation source operated by DESY in Hamburg, Germany. Our results on single and multiple L-shell photoionization of Fe+, Fe2+, and Fe3+ ions, and on single and multiple K-shell photoionization of C, C+, C4+, Ne+, and Si2+ ions are discussed in astrophysical contexts. Moreover, these experimental results bear witness of the fact that the implementation of the photon-ion merged-beams method at one of the world’s brightest synchrotron light sources has led to a breakthrough for the experimental study of atomic inner-shell photoionization processes with ions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Interaction of Ionizing Photons with Atomic and Molecular Ions)
Show Figures

Figure 1

Other

1 pages, 193 KiB  
Correction
Correction: Wong et al. Investigation of a Collisional Radiative Model for Laser-Produced Plasmas. Atoms 2020, 8, 52
by Nicholas L. Wong, Fergal O’Reilly and Emma Sokell
Atoms 2022, 10(4), 121; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/atoms10040121 - 25 Oct 2022
Viewed by 729
Abstract
Text Correction [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Interaction of Ionizing Photons with Atomic and Molecular Ions)
Back to TopTop