Physical Review A · 1994 · 117 citations · 15 references
Natural SciencesChemistryPhysicsMolecular PhysicsOpticsPhysical ChemistryLaser OpticsLaser PhysicsCoherent Superposition StatesMolecular PhotodissociationPhotodissociation DynamicsPhotodissociation ProcessesPhotofragmentation DynamicsRelative PhaseStrong-field Laser-matter Interaction
We present calculations for ${\mathrm{H}}_{2}^{+}$ photodissociation in intense short laser pulses where molecular rotation is fully included, resulting in the experimentally observed alignment of the photofragments. In addition, we show that by using a coherent superposition (phase-locked) of a fundamental radiation and its second harmonic, a strong asymmetry between the forwards and backwards proton distribution can be observed. Both the total dissociation probability and the asymmetry of the ion distribution are sensitive to the relative phase of the two colors and thus subject to coherent control.
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