title: Ionization suppression of diatomic molecules in an intense midinfrared laser field.
abstract: Diatomic molecules (e.g., O(2)) in an intense laser field exhibit a peculiar suppressed ionization behavior compared to their companion atoms. Several physical models have been proposed to account for this suppression, while no consensus has been achieved. In this Letter, we aim to clarify the underlying mechanisms behind this molecular ionization suppression. Experimental data recorded at midinfrared laser wavelength and its comparison with that at near-infrared wavelength revealed a peculiar wavelength and intensity dependence of the suppressed ionization of O(2) with respect to its companion atom of Xe, while N(2) behaves like a structureless atom. It is found that the S-matrix theory calculation can reproduce well the experimental observations and unambiguously identifies the significant role of two-center interference effect in the ionization suppression of O(2).
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics, Wuhan Institute of Physics and Mathematics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China.
authors.forename: ZhiYang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: XinYan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Jia
authors.forename: ChuanLiang
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: ZiLong
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: HuiPeng
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Quan
authors.forename: XuanYang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: XiaoJun
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.forename: JinPing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.forename: Ya
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: ZhiZhan
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Xu