Direct measurement of the angular dependence of ionization for N2, O2, and CO2 in intense laser fields.
We experimentally measure the ionization probability as a function of alignment angle of three molecules in intense laser fields: nitrogen, oxygen, and carbon dioxide. Unlike atoms, molecules have a rotational degree of freedom. By controlling the alignment of the molecule relative to the laser field, molecules offer additional ways to understand strong-field ionization. The angular dependence of ionization directly maps to the orbital symmetry of each molecule. Carbon dioxide is seen to have a very sharp preference for ionization when aligned at 45 degrees to the laser field, in significant disagreement with current theories.
Pavicić
Domagoj
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National Research Council of Canada, 100 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0R6, Canada.
Lee
Kevin F
KF
Rayner
D M
DM
Corkum
P B
PB
Villeneuve
D M
DM