Ionization and Fragmentation of Complex Molecules and Clusters Biomolecules and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons

Sammanfattning: This work deals with ionization and fragmentation of biomolecules and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) molecules. They are studied in the gas phase both as isolated molecules and as weakly bound clusters. The purpose of the experimental and theoretical investigations are to elucidate charge and energy transfer and related redistribution processes, as well as fragmentation behaviors.The first part of this thesis presents results from studies on biomolecular ions, in particular nucleotides and peptides, which are primarily examined in electron capture induced dissociation processes. These investigations are relevant for the better understanding of radiation damage to DNA and processes involved in the sequencing of proteins. It is found that the immediate environment have a decisive influence on the fragmentation behaviors. Evaporation of surrounding molecules protect the biomolecules, but their effect on the electronic structure may also enhance or suppress different fragmentation channels.In the second part of the thesis, results from studies on PAH molecules are presented. Experimentally, their properties are mainly probed through collisions with atomic ion projectiles having kilo-electronvolt kinetic energies. As a widespread pollutant on Earth, and as a family of abundant molecules in space, PAHs are not only relevant from an environmental and health perspective, but they are also important for the understanding of the universe. The present results relate to the stabilities of these molecules, both in isolated form and in clusters, when heated or multiply ionized. It is found to be easier to remove several electrons from clusters of PAH molecules than from isolated PAHs, and fission processes determine their ultimate stabilities. Heated low-charge state clusters of PAHs undergo long evaporation sequences once these have started. For isolated and heated PAHs, internal structural rearrangements are demonstrated to be important in the fragmentation processes.