Consecutive photodissociation of a single complex molecular ion

Using the positively charged aniline ion (C₆H₅NH₂⁺) as a test molecule, we demonstrate that it is possible to study consecutive photodissociation of complex molecular ions at the single molecule level in an ion trap. When a single C₆H₅NH₂⁺ ion is exposed to laser light at 3970.3em0exnm and 2940.3em0exnm, direct or consecutive photodissociation leads to the production of a range of smaller polyatomic molecular ions such as C₅H₆⁺ and C₃H₃⁺. The applied method is very versatile and can, e.g., be used in combination with free electron lasers or synchrotron radiation sources.