Covariance imaging experiments using a pixel-imaging mass-spectrometry camera

The "pixel imaging mass spectrometry" camera is used to perform femtosecond laser-induced Coulomb explosion imaging of 3,5-dibromo-3′, 5′-difluoro-4′-cyanobiphenyl molecules prealigned in space. The experiment allows the concurrent detection of the correlated two-dimensional momentum images of all the ionic fragments resulting from fragmentation of multiple molecules in each acquisition cycle. The Coulomb explosion studies provide rich information about the parent molecular structure and fragmentation dynamics, and open new opportunities for real-time imaging of intramolecular processes. © 2014 American Physical Society.