Photoionization of the Lower Aliphatic Alcohols with Mass Analysis

Relative photoionization cross-section curves have been determined for parent and fragment ions of methanol, ethanol, n-propanol, and isopropanol over the photon energy range from the ionization potential to 14.0 eV. Appearance potentials and heats of formation of some fragment ions have been determined. The data have been treated to give experimental breakdown curves which are compared with those obtained by charge exchange and with the results of theoretical calculations. Some details of the fragmentation processes are elucidated.