Electron-collision induced fragmentation and intermolecular energy transfer processes in water and hydrated biomolecule clusters studied with multi-particle coincidence experiments

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This project aims to explore low-energy electron impact-induced molecular ionization, fragmentation and intermolecular energy transfer which are reactions relevant in radiation damage of DNA. One central point is to explore the presumably strong influence of a natural environment like attached water molecules on the break-up of bio-molecules (BM). Here of particular interest will be the intermolecular Coulombic decay (ICD) and related energy and charge transfer processes in molecular clusters which in relation with BM are essentially unexplored. E.g., energy transfer from water to the BM on one hand can enhance fragmentation and on the other hand fast energy transfer in the reverse direction can quench fragmentation. First experiments will be performed on tetrahydrofuran (THF) the simplest molecular analog of deoxyribose in the DNA backbone. A multi-particle imaging spectrometer with an implemented low energy electron beam and a heatable supersonic molecular jet target will be used. This worldwide singular experimental set-up is uniquely suited to study electron-driven break-up processes by efficiently measuring all the electrons and ions (their mass, charge, direction and energy). Triple- up to quintuple- coincidence experiments will be performed with high fragment ion mass resolution and high energy resolution.