Using the positively charged aniline ion $\left({\mathrm{C}}_6{\mathrm{H}}_5{{\mathrm{NH}}_2}^{+}\right)$ 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 ${\mathrm{C}}_6{\mathrm{H}}_5{{\mathrm{NH}}_2}^{+}$ ion is exposed to laser light at $397\mathrm{nm}$ and $294\mathrm{nm}$, direct or consecutive photodissociation leads to the production of a range of smaller polyatomic molecular ions such as ${\mathrm{C}}_5{{\mathrm{H}}_6}^{+}$ and ${\mathrm{C}}_3{{\mathrm{H}}_3}^{+}$. The applied method is very versatile and can, e.g., be used in combination with free electron lasers or synchrotron radiation sources.

• Received 26 June 2007

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.77.030702