Photoelectron kinetic and angular distributions for the ionization of aligned molecules using a HHG source

Abstract

We present an experimental and theoretical investigation of the angular distributions of electrons ejected in aligned molecules by extreme ultra-violet ionization using a high harmonic generation (HHG) source. Impulsive alignment in O₂, N₂ and CO molecules was achieved using a near-IR laser pulse and the photoelectron angular distribution after ionization by a fs harmonic comb composed of harmonic H11 to H29 (17.5-46 eV) was recorded at the maximum of both alignment and anti-alignment. The experiment reveals signatures that are specific for the electronic orbitals that are ionized as well as the onset of the influence of the molecular structure and is well reproduced by theoretical calculations based on the multichannel Schwinger configuration interaction method.