arXiv subjects

F. Tarantelli

Publications and source records attributed to F. Tarantelli.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2013

Double core hole production in N2: Beating the Auger clock

We investigate the creation of double K-shell holes in N2 molecules via sequential absorption of two photons on a timescale shorter than the core-hole lifetime by using intense x-ray pulses from the Linac Coherent Light Source free electron laser. The production and decay of these states is characterized by photoelectron spectroscopy and Auger electron spectroscopy. In molecules, two types of double core holes are expected, the first with two core holes on the same N atom, and the second with one core hole on each N atom. We report the first direct observations of the former type of core hole in a molecule, in good agreement with theory, and provide an experimental upper bound for the relative contribution of the latter type.

physics.acc-ph↗

arXiv2013

Multiphoton Ionization as a clock to Reveal Molecular Dynamics with Intense Short X-ray Free Electron Laser Pulses

We investigate molecular dynamics of multiple ionization in N2 through multiple core-level photoabsorption and subsequent Auger decay processes induced by intense, short X-ray free electron laser pulses. The timing dynamics of the photoabsorption and dissociation processes is mapped onto the kinetic energy of the fragments. Measurements of the latter allow us to map out the average internuclear separation for every molecular photoionization sequence step and obtain the average time interval between the photoabsorption events. Using multiphoton ionization as a tool of multiple-pulse pump-probe scheme, we demonstrate the modification of the ionization dynamics as we vary the x-ray laser pulse duration.

physics.acc-ph↗

arXiv2013

Delayed Ultrafast X-ray Auger Probing (DUXAP) of Nucleobase Ultraviolet Photoprotection

We present a new method for ultrafast spectroscopy of molecular photoexcited dynamics. The technique uses a pair of femtosecond pulses: a photoexcitation pulse initiating excited state dynamics followed by a soft x-ray (SXR) probe pulse that core ionizes certain atoms inside the molecule. We observe the Auger decay of the core hole as a function of delay between the photoexcitation and SXR pulses. The core hole decay is particularly sensitive to the local valence electrons near the core and shows new types of propensity rules, compared to dipole selection rules in SXR absorption or emission spectroscopy. We apply the delayed ultrafast x-ray Auger probing (DUXAP) method to the specific problem of nucleobase photoprotection to demonstrate its potential. The ultraviolet photoexcited ππ* states of nucleobases are prone to chemical reactions with neighboring bases. To avoid this, the single molecules funnel the ππ* population to lower lying electronic states on an ultrafast timescale under violation of the Born-Oppenheimer approximation. The new type of propensity rule, which is confirmed by Auger decay simulations, allows us to have increased sensitivity on the direct relaxation from the ππ* state to the vibrationally hot electronic ground state. For the nucleobase thymine, we measure a decay constant of 300 fs in agreement with previous quantum chemical simulations.

physics.chem-ph↗

arXiv2002

Strong charge transfer effects in the Mg2p^{-1} core-level spectrum of MgB_2

The two available Mg2p^{-1} spectra of the recently discovered high-temperature superconducting MgB_2 crystal exhibit interesting structures, but contradict each other. This motivated us to perform ab initio calculations on the core-level spectra of cluster models. The computed spectra reveal unusual rich and intense structures triggered by a B2p_z->Mg3s,3p charge transfer

cond-mat.str-el↗