Double photoionization of N2O molecules in the 28–40 eV energy range

The double photoionization of N2O molecules, in the 28–40 eV energy range, has been studied by synchrotron radiation. In the whole energy range, dissociative ionization producing N+ + NO+ or N 2 + + O + has been observed. Below ∼35.5 eV, these two processes involve the formation of some autoionizing states. In the range between ∼35.5 and ∼38.5 eV the two processes occur instead by a direct coulomb explosion of the N2O2+ dication. Above ∼38.5 eV the dissociation leading to NO+ + N+ is also promoted by the formation of a dication metastable state which decays by fluorescence to the ground state and then dissociates.