Intense X-ray FEL-molecule physics: Highly charged ions

摘要

We report on sequential multiphoton ionization of N_2, H_2S and SF_6 by intense, femtosecond duration pulses of x-rays from the LCLS free electron laser. Following either K- or L-shell excitation, we observe ionization and fragmentation of the molecule by Auger electron, photoelectron, and ion time-of-flight spectroscopy. Intense excitation of the K-shell leads to depletion and double core hole effects, observed in N_2 [1, 2]. For L-shell excitation, additional relaxation channels suppress depletion, allowing ionization to continue until energetically forbidden. The investigation of multiphoton ionization has produced a better understanding of molecular plasmas created by intense ultrafast x-ray exposure.