Two- and three-body kinematical correlation in the dissociative recombination of H₃⁺

The fragmentation patterns for dissociative recombination of the triatomic hydrogen molecular ion in the vibrational ground state were investigated using the molecular fragment imaging techniques. The broad distribution of vibrational states in the H₂ fragment and predominance of linear momentum geometries were discussed. The results showed the dissociation via Coulombic interaction reflected directly the equilateral nuclear conformation of the triatomic hydrogen molecular ion.