Fragmentation dynamics of CS2 dications and trications following S 2p ionization

Journal article

We present the results from a detailed study of the fragmentation dynamics of $\mathrm{CS}_{2}^{2+}$ and $\mathrm{CS}_{2}^{3+}$⁠, formed in intense femtosecond soft x-ray pulses above the sulfur 2p edge, primarily through single core photoionization from the S 2p site, and subsequent Auger–Meitner decay(s). By combining three-dimensional velocity map imaging with covariance analysis, we determine the relative momenta of the ions produced in each two- and three-body fragmentation channel, at significantly higher ion count rates than conventional coincidence measurements. We shed new light on the wide range of fragmentation channels observed from the CS2 dication and trication, including channels that involve ionization-induced bond formation and fragmentations producing undetected neutral cofragments. In the latter case, a “native frames” approach is used to isolate contributions from concerted and sequential fragmentations and extract dynamical information about each step of a concerted fragmentation process. While dications often fragment sequentially, the trication is dominated by concerted fragmentation. The main trication fragmentation channel into S⁺ + C⁺ + S⁺ can be well-approximated by classical Coulombic simulations of the ground-state geometry distribution, reflecting both the nature of the trication potential energy surface and the rapid multiple ionization prior to substantial structural dynamics. This study demonstrates ways in which fundamental insights into the fragmentation dynamics of polycations following x-ray ionization may be extracted, which will be beneficial to future studies that employ time-resolved x-ray Coulomb explosion imaging to study ultrafast photochemistry.

Authors: Allum, F; Lam, C-S; Erk, B; Bromberger, H; Bucksbaum, PH

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: American Institute of Physics
• Journal: Journal of Chemical Physics
• Volume: 164
• Issue: 2
• Article number: 24304
• Publication date: 2026-01-09
• Acceptance date: 2025-12-18
• DOI: 10.1063/5.0304278
• EISSN: 1089-7690
• ISSN: 0021-9606
• Language: English