Fragmentation dynamics of sulfur dioxide dication in intense femtosecond laser fields

R Ruichao Dong (Shanghai Advanced Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences 1 , Shanghai 201210,) A Ahai Chen (Center for Transformative Science and School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University 3 , Shanghai 201210,) Y Yikang Zhang J Jinze Feng (Center for Transformative Science and School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University 3 , Shanghai 201210,) H Huanyu Ma (Center for Transformative Science and School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University 3 , Shanghai 201210,) T Tuo Liu Y Yuneng Shen (Center for Transformative Science and School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University 3 , Shanghai 201210,) J Jiaming Jiang (Center for Transformative Science and School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University 3 , Shanghai 201210,) Z Zhenjie Shen (Center for Transformative Science and School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University 3 , Shanghai 201210,) X Xiaoqing Hu E Enliang Wang (James R. Macdonald Laboratory, Physics Department) X Xiangjun Chen X Xincheng Wang (Center for Transformative Science and School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University 3 , Shanghai 201210,) Y Yuhai Jiang (Shanghai Advanced Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences 1 , Shanghai 201210,)

Abstract

We present an experimental study on the fragmentation dynamics of sulfur dioxide (SO2) under femtosecond laser irradiation. Using the fragment ions coincidence momentum imaging technique, two two-body and one three-body fragmentation channels of SO22+ are analyzed. For the three-body channel, four different dissociation mechanisms are determined unambiguously by analyzing the kinetic energy and momentum correlations, Dalitz plots, and the native frame maps. In addition to the concerted and conventional sequential fragmentation paths, a novel three-body fragmentation pathway, defined as an isomerization pathway, was identified, in which a rapidly rotating O2+ molecular ion is formed prior to fragmentation into individual fragments. This new fragmentation mechanism may provide new insights to explain the abiotic oxygen production in SO2-dominated planetary atmospheres.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 164, Issue 12
Published March 28, 2026
ISSN 0021-9606
Publisher American Institute of Physics

Journal Info

The Journal of Chemical Physics

American Institute of Physics

ISSN: 0021-9606 Physical Sciences

Authors (14)

R

Ruichao Dong

Shanghai Advanced Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences 1 , Shanghai 201210,

A

Ahai Chen

Center for Transformative Science and School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University 3 , Shanghai 201210,

Y

Yikang Zhang

J

Jinze Feng

Center for Transformative Science and School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University 3 , Shanghai 201210,

H

Huanyu Ma

Center for Transformative Science and School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University 3 , Shanghai 201210,

T

Tuo Liu

Y

Yuneng Shen

Center for Transformative Science and School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University 3 , Shanghai 201210,

J

Jiaming Jiang

Center for Transformative Science and School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University 3 , Shanghai 201210,

Z

Zhenjie Shen

Center for Transformative Science and School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University 3 , Shanghai 201210,

X

Xiaoqing Hu

E

Enliang Wang

James R. Macdonald Laboratory, Physics Department

X

Xiangjun Chen

X

Xincheng Wang

Center for Transformative Science and School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University 3 , Shanghai 201210,

Y

Yuhai Jiang

Shanghai Advanced Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences 1 , Shanghai 201210,