Dissociative triple ionization of argon dimers in elliptically polarized two-color laser fields

Abstract

Using ion–ion coincidence measurements, we experimentally investigate the dissociative triple ionization of argon dimers in relative phase controlled elliptically polarized two-color femtosecond laser fields. By examining the kinetic energy release-dependent momentum angular distribution of the ejected ionic fragments, two distinct pathways, each associated with different intermediates, are identified. Control over the emission directions of the ionic fragments is achieved by varying the relative phase of the elliptical two-color laser fields. Notably, the two pathways exhibit nearly opposite asymmetries in their dependence on the relative phase. Our findings demonstrate the critical role of intermediates in the dissociative triple ionization of dimers and provide a method to distinguish the intermediates involved in this process.