Laser-intensity dependent vibrational excitation and alignment of molecular ions in the ultrafast multiphoton regime

H2 molecules were ionized in the ultrafast (approximately 150 fs) multiphoton regime (263 nm, approximately 10(13) W cm(-2)). Earlier experiments investigated the kinetic energies of electrons or ions only. Using a unique experiment, we show that the vibrational excitation of molecular ions contains...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Physical review letters 2008-12, Vol.101 (23), p.233004-233004, Article 233004
Main Authors: Posthumus, J H, Fabre, B, Cornaggia, C, de Ruette, N, Urbain, X
Format: Article
Language:English
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Summary:H2 molecules were ionized in the ultrafast (approximately 150 fs) multiphoton regime (263 nm, approximately 10(13) W cm(-2)). Earlier experiments investigated the kinetic energies of electrons or ions only. Using a unique experiment, we show that the vibrational excitation of molecular ions contains essential information about the dynamics of the process. In addition, we prove some earlier interpretations wrong. A realistic model based on vibronically excited intermediates, Stark shifting into resonance, reproduces the measurements, demonstrating that resonances continue to be important in the femtosecond regime. This eventually enables ultrafast control of the vibrational excitation of molecular ions, which is relevant to the whole field of molecular physics and physical chemistry.
ISSN:0031-9007
1079-7114
DOI:10.1103/PhysRevLett.101.233004