Formation of fragment ions (H+, H3+, CH3+) from ethane in intense femtosecond laser fields--from understanding to control.

The dissociative ionization of ethane in intense femtosecond laser fields has been investigated as a function of the laser pulse shape by systematically varying the quadratic spectral phase, i.e. the linear chirp.

Analysis of chirality by femtosecond laser ionization mass spectrometry.

Recent progress in the field of chirality analysis employing laser ionization mass spectrometry is reviewed. Emphasis is given to femtosecond (fs) laser ionization work from the author's group. We begin by reviewing fundamental aspects of determining circular dichroism (CD) in fs-laser ionization mass spectrometry (fs-LIMS) discussing an example from the literature (resonant fs-LIMS of 3-methylcyclopentanone).

Circular dichroism in ion yields employing femtosecond laser ionization-the role of laser pulse duration.

The circular dichroism (CD) induced by femtosecond laser pulse excitation of 3-methyl-cyclopentanone has been investigated by means of experiment and theory as a function of the laser pulse duration. In the experiment the CD in ion yields is measured by femtosecond laser ionization via a one-photon resonant excited state. In the theoretical part the CD is calculated by solving laser driven quantum electron dynamics for the same resonant excitation based on ab initio electronic structure calculations employing a complete description of the electric field-electric dipole and magnetic field-magnetic dipole interactions.

Circular dichroism in ion yields of femtosecond-laser mass spectrometry.

Telling the difference quickly: Femtosecond laser pulses are not only suitable to distinguish structural isomers. They also provide access to the distinction of enantiomers by combination of circular dichroism and mass spectrometry [picture: see text].