Photodissociation of the HeH⁺molecular ion

Abstract

The photodissociation cross section of the molecular ion HeH$^+$ was calculated within the Born-Oppenheimer approximation for a parallel, a perpendicular, and an isotropic orientation of the molecular axis with respect to the field, considering also different initial vibrational and rotational states. The results were compared to recent data from a free-electron laser experiment performed at the FLASH facility [H.B. Pedersen {\it et al.}, Phys. Rev. Lett. 98, 223202, (2007)]. Within the experimental uncertainties theoretical and experimental results are compatible with each other.