Laser Induced Degradation and Cluster Ion Formation Studied by Ablative Photodecomposition of Organic Solid Material

Abstract Photoablative studies of organic solid materials have been carried out with the aim to shed some light on the mechanism of interaction between laser radiation and crystalline structures. The results illustrate two reaction pathways: fragmentation and cluster formation. Fragmentation occurs through a retro Diels-Alder ring-opening process. Clusterization is reminiscent of the crystal structure of the solid, which is dominated by hydrogen bonding.