Strong-field ionization of water: Nuclear dynamics revealed by varying the pulse duration
Andrew J. Howard, Chuan Cheng, Ruaridh Forbes, Gregory A. McCracken, William Hobson Mills, Varun Makhija, M. Spanner, Thomas Weinacht, P. H. Bucksbaum
Abstract
The authors report on measurements of the three-dimensional momentum distribution of fragment ions that follow the strong-field double ionization and subsequent dissociation of water using 800-nm laser pulses with durations of 10 and 40 fs. While the short-pulse measurements are found to agree with a simple tunnel ionization picture, the long-pulse measurements cannot be explained by this same picture and suggest substantial nuclear motion within the molecule during the laser pulse.
Topics & Concepts
IonizationAtomic physicsDissociation (chemistry)Pulse (music)LaserIonMomentum (technical analysis)PhysicsMaterials scienceChemistryOpticsQuantum mechanicsFinanceEconomicsDetectorPhysical chemistryLaser-Matter Interactions and ApplicationsAtomic and Molecular PhysicsMass Spectrometry Techniques and Applications