• Featured in Physics

Strong-field ionization of molecular iodine traced with XUV pulses from a free-electron laser

Maria Krikunova, Theophilos Maltezopoulos, Philipp Wessels, Moritz Schlie, Armin Azima, Thomas Gaumnitz, Thomas Gebert, Marek Wieland, and Markus Drescher
Phys. Rev. A 86, 043430 – Published 25 October 2012
Physics logo See Synopsis: Watching a Molecular Explosion

Abstract

Ultrafast dynamics of a molecular wave packet created by a strong 120-fs near-infrared (800 nm) laser pulse in iodine has been probed by synchronized 13.4-nm, 35-fs extreme-ultraviolet pulses delivered by the free-electron laser facility in Hamburg, FLASH. The kinetic energy release of the multiply charged ionic fragments reveals three essential steps of strong-field-induced molecular fragmentation dynamics: (i) The creation of I22+ and (I22+)* molecular ions proceeds within (75 ± 15) fs full-width-at-half-maximum. (ii) With the onset of the I22+ fragmentation the probability to lose a further electron within the same optical laser pulse rises with increasing I+—I+ internuclear separation and reaches its maximum after 30 fs with respect to the pulse maximum. (iii) Charge separation into the I22+I2++I dissociative channel with an asymmetric charge distribution is completed after (121 ± 22) fs.

  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
1 More
  • Received 12 July 2012

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.86.043430

©2012 American Physical Society

Synopsis

Key Image

Watching a Molecular Explosion

Published 25 October 2012

Snapshots of a molecule dissociating into atomic fragments are captured with x-ray laser pulses.

See more in Physics

Authors & Affiliations

Maria Krikunova*, Theophilos Maltezopoulos, Philipp Wessels, Moritz Schlie, Armin Azima, Thomas Gaumnitz, Thomas Gebert, Marek Wieland, and Markus Drescher

  • Institut für Experimentalphysik, Universität Hamburg, and Center for Free-Electron Laser Science CFEL, Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761 Hamburg, Germany

  • *Institut für Optik und Atomare Physik, Technische Universität Berlin, Hardenbergstr. 36, EW 3-1, 10623 Berlin, Germany: maria.krikunova@physik.tu-berlin.de

Article Text (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand

References (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand
Issue

Vol. 86, Iss. 4 — October 2012

Reuse & Permissions
Access Options
Author publication services for translation and copyediting assistance advertisement

Authorization Required


×
×

Images

×

Sign up to receive regular email alerts from Physical Review A

Log In

Cancel
×

Search


Article Lookup

Paste a citation or DOI

Enter a citation
×