H$_{3}^{+}$ Formation on the Surface of Silica Nanoparticles Exposed to Strong Laser Field

Laser-induced molecular reactions on aerosolized nanoparticles can lead to exotic chemical reactions. The formation of the trihydrogen cation H$_{3}^{+}$ from H$_{2}$O molecules attached to the surfaces of nanoparticles is one case that requires hydrogen migration and over the surface roaming mechanisms. In this presentation, we show that high-repetition rate reaction nanoscopy permits the investigation of the formation of H$_{3}^{+}$ cations on the surfaces of aerosolized nanoparticles. We use a novel high-power fiber-based laser system (Active Fiber) at a central wavelength of 1030 nm, repetition rate of 150 kHz, pulse durations of around 40 fs, and pulse energies reaching 6.2 $\mu$J. The laser pulses were tightly focused onto a jet of aerosolized nanoparticles by a spherical silver mirror (f=10 cm). The aerosol source is operated with SiO$_{2}$ nanoparticles in water. The studies show remarkably different energies between the H$_{3}^{+}$ cations created on the surface of the nanoparticles and those created from the dissociation of isolated ethanol molecules.