Laser Control of Electrons in Molecules

Anisotropic “charge-flipping” acceleration of highly charged ions from clusters in strong optical fields

“…This component has no analog in measurements with atomic clusters and we ascribe it to the ionization signal from unclustered N 2 molecules that are present in the supersonic beam. The asymmetry that is observed is attributed to spatial alignment of the molecular axis along the laser polarization vector, a feature of laser-molecule interactions that has been well studied [2,14]. We note that N 2 has a very low value of the empirical constant in the Hagena parameter [13], indicating that this molecule has low propensity for clustering; thus we observe a component of unclustered N 2 molecules that also emerges from the skimmer.…”

“…Among the dominant effects observed are above-threshold ionization (ATI), tunneling ionization, high harmonic generation, molecular alignment, and enhanced ionization of molecules. For a recent update on progress in these areas, see Bandrauk et al [2]. Experiments that probe such phenomena are typically conducted under conditions such that the atoms and molecules respond independently to the laser field -the density is kept low enough so that each atom/molecule is "unaware" of the presence of others in the neighborhood.…”

Attosecond localization of electrons in molecules

“…Such states have large dipole moments equal to the internuclear distance R, and thus can lead to large radiative interactions, V(R) ϭ ER, exceeding molecular dissociation energies at current laser intensities. Studies of molecules in the nonlinear nonperturbative regime of molecule-radiation interaction is thus a new science requiring nonperturbative theories and numerical methods to treat laser control and manipulation of molecules in this regime [21,22].…”

Detailed instantaneous ionization rate ofH2+in an intense laser field

“…In addition to the electronic dynamics, molecules have nuclear dynamics, vibration and rotation, in femtosecond and picosecond time scales. Extensive studies carried out experimentally and theoretically on the H 2 and H 2 + systems have revealed comprehensive new phenomena [2][3][4].…”