Laser Detection of Reaction Products: Slicing versus Projection Techniques

Abstract

Combining laser spectroscopy and two-dimensional imaging technologies, researchers can execute sophisticated experiments to measure time-resolved spatial profiles of state-selected reactants and products of elementary chemical reactions. Besides the scalar observables, there are issues of vector correlations of reaction products which are best studied by imaging techniques. Advantages and drawbacks of various projection and slicing detection techniques are elucidated. The problem of vector correlations in concerted three-body dissociations can be tackled by the slicing techniques and a new analysis algorithm.