Attosecond electronic and nuclear quantum photodynamics of ozone monitored with time and angle resolved photoelectron spectra

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that time- and angle-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy can be used to observe real-time electronic wave packet dynamics and their influence on chemical processes in ozone molecules within femtoseconds.

Contribution

It introduces a detailed theoretical analysis of photoelectron angular distributions to monitor electronic wave packet evolution in ozone, advancing ultrafast molecular spectroscopy techniques.

Findings

Photoelectron angular distributions reveal electronic wave packet dynamics.

Technique can observe real-time electronic motion in neutral molecules.

Potential to monitor chemical reactions at femtosecond timescales.

Abstract

Recently we reported a series of numerical simulations proving that it is possible in principle to create an electronic wave packet and subsequent electronic motion in a neutral molecule photoexcited by a UV pump pulse within a few femtoseconds. We considered the ozone molecule: for this system the electronic wave packet leads to a dissociation process. In the present work, we investigate more specifically the time-resolved photoelectron angular distribution of the ozone molecule that provides a much more detailed description of the evolution of the electronic wave packet. We thus show that this experimental technique should be able to give access to observing in real time the creation of an electronic wave packet in a neutral molecule and its impact on a chemical process.