Gas-phase reaction dynamics studied by ion imaging

Ion imaging is a multiplex detection technique that employs multi-photon ionization and two-dimensional time-of-flight mass spectrometry to obtain detailed information on the dynamics that govern the making and breaking of chemical bonds. It has primarily been used to study gas-phase unimolecular photofragmentations, but can also be used to study bimolecular reactions and photoelectron processes. In many cases ion imaging permits the simultaneous measurement of reaction product branching ratios, quantum-state populations and velocity distributions. (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.