1
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Schöpfer G, Bergmeister S, Ončák M, Stromberg I, Mahmoodi-Darian M, Scheier P, Echt O, Gruber E. Doubly charged dimers and trimers of heavy noble gases. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2024; 26:11482-11490. [PMID: 38533827 PMCID: PMC11022278 DOI: 10.1039/d4cp00465e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024]
Abstract
Many doubly charged heteronuclear dimers are metastable or even thermodynamically stable with respect to charge separation. Homonuclear dicationic dimers, however, are more difficult to form. He22+ was the first noble gas dimer predicted to be metastable and, decades later, observed. Ne22+ is the only other dicationic noble gas dimer that has been detected so far. Here, we present a novel approach to form fragile dicationic species, by post-ionization of singly charged ions that are embedded in helium nanodroplets (HNDs). Bare ions are then extracted by colliding the HNDs with helium gas. We detect homonuclear doubly charged dimers and trimers of krypton and xenon, but not argon. Our multi-reference ab initio calculations confirm the stability of Kr22+, Kr32+, Xe22+, Xe32+, and Ar22+, but put the stability of Ar32+ towards dissociation to Ar+ + Ar2+ into question.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel Schöpfer
- Institut für Ionenphysik und Angewandte Physik, Universität Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.
| | - Stefan Bergmeister
- Institut für Ionenphysik und Angewandte Physik, Universität Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.
| | - Milan Ončák
- Institut für Ionenphysik und Angewandte Physik, Universität Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.
| | - Ianessa Stromberg
- Institut für Ionenphysik und Angewandte Physik, Universität Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.
- School of Chemistry, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | | | - Paul Scheier
- Institut für Ionenphysik und Angewandte Physik, Universität Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.
| | - Olof Echt
- Institut für Ionenphysik und Angewandte Physik, Universität Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.
- Department of Physics, University of New Hampshire, Durham, USA
| | - Elisabeth Gruber
- Institut für Ionenphysik und Angewandte Physik, Universität Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.
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2
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Lu C, Shi M, Pan S, Zhou L, Qiang J, Lu P, Zhang W, Wu J. Electron transfer in strong-field three-body fragmentation of ArKr 2 trimers. J Chem Phys 2023; 158:094302. [PMID: 36889967 DOI: 10.1063/5.0134833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/15/2023] Open
Abstract
We experimentally studied the three-body fragmentation dynamics of a noble gas cluster (ArKr2) upon its multiple ionization by an intense femtosecond laser pulse. The three-dimensional momentum vectors of correlated fragmental ions were measured in coincidence for each fragmentation event. A novel comet-like structure was observed in the Newton diagram of the quadruple-ionization-induced breakup channel of ArKr2 4+→ Ar+ + Kr+ + Kr2+. The concentrated head part of the structure mainly originates from the direct Coulomb explosion process, while the broader tail part of the structure stems from a three-body fragmentation process involving electron transfer between the distant Kr+ and Kr2+ ion fragments. Due to the field-driven electron transfer, the Coulomb repulsive force of the Kr2+ and Kr+ ions with respect to the Ar+ ion undergoes exchange, leading to changes in the ion emission geometry in the Newton plot. An energy sharing among the separating Kr2+ and Kr+ entities was observed. Our study indicates a promising approach for investigating the strong-field-driven intersystem electron transfer dynamics by using the Coulomb explosion imaging of an isosceles triangle van der Waals cluster system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenxu Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Precision Spectroscopy, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Menghang Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Precision Spectroscopy, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Shengzhe Pan
- State Key Laboratory of Precision Spectroscopy, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Lianrong Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Precision Spectroscopy, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Junjie Qiang
- State Key Laboratory of Precision Spectroscopy, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Peifen Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Precision Spectroscopy, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Wenbin Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Precision Spectroscopy, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Jian Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Precision Spectroscopy, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
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3
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Brennecke S, Ranke M, Dimitriou A, Walther S, Prandolini MJ, Lein M, Frühling U. Control of Electron Wave Packets Close to the Continuum Threshold Using Near-Single-Cycle THz Waveforms. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2022; 129:213202. [PMID: 36461977 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.129.213202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The control of low-energy electrons by carrier-envelope-phase-stable near-single-cycle THz pulses is demonstrated. A femtosecond laser pulse is used to create a temporally localized wave packet through multiphoton absorption at a well defined phase of a synchronized THz field. By recording the photoelectron momentum distributions as a function of the time delay, we observe signatures of various regimes of dynamics, ranging from recollision-free acceleration to coherent electron-ion scattering induced by the THz field. The measurements are confirmed by three-dimensional time-dependent Schrödinger equation simulations. A classical trajectory model allows us to identify scattering phenomena analogous to strong-field photoelectron holography and high-order above-threshold ionization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Brennecke
- Leibniz Universität Hannover, Institut für Theoretische Physik, Appelstraße 2, 30167 Hannover, Germany
| | - Martin Ranke
- Institut für Experimentalphysik, Universität Hamburg, Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761 Hamburg, Germany
- The Hamburg Centre for Ultrafast Imaging (CUI), Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Anastasios Dimitriou
- Institut für Experimentalphysik, Universität Hamburg, Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761 Hamburg, Germany
- The Hamburg Centre for Ultrafast Imaging (CUI), Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761 Hamburg, Germany
- Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, NSR Demokritos, 15341 Agia Paraskevi, Athens, Greece
| | - Sophie Walther
- Institut für Experimentalphysik, Universität Hamburg, Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761 Hamburg, Germany
- The Hamburg Centre for Ultrafast Imaging (CUI), Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Mark J Prandolini
- Institut für Experimentalphysik, Universität Hamburg, Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Manfred Lein
- Leibniz Universität Hannover, Institut für Theoretische Physik, Appelstraße 2, 30167 Hannover, Germany
| | - Ulrike Frühling
- Institut für Experimentalphysik, Universität Hamburg, Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761 Hamburg, Germany
- The Hamburg Centre for Ultrafast Imaging (CUI), Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761 Hamburg, Germany
- Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron, Notkestrasse 85, 22603 Hamburg, Germany
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4
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Wang Y, Lai X, Yu S, Sun R, Liu X, Dorner-Kirchner M, Erattupuzha S, Larimian S, Koch M, Hanus V, Kangaparambil S, Paulus G, Baltuška A, Xie X, Kitzler-Zeiler M. Laser-Induced Electron Transfer in the Dissociative Multiple Ionization of Argon Dimers. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2020; 125:063202. [PMID: 32845670 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.125.063202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2019] [Revised: 05/28/2020] [Accepted: 07/16/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
We report on an experimental and theoretical study of the ionization-fragmentation dynamics of argon dimers in intense few-cycle laser pulses with a tagged carrier-envelope phase. We find that a field-driven electron transfer process from one argon atom across the system boundary to the other argon atom triggers subcycle electron-electron interaction dynamics in the neighboring atom. This attosecond electron-transfer process between distant entities and its implications manifests itself as a distinct phase-shift between the measured asymmetry of electron emission curves of the Ar^{+}+Ar^{2+} and Ar^{2+}+Ar^{2+} fragmentation channels. This letter discloses a strong-field route to controlling the dynamics in molecular compounds through the excitation of electronic dynamics on a distant molecule by driving intermolecular electron-transfer processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- YanLan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics, Innovation Academy for Precision Measurement Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - XuanYang Lai
- State Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics, Innovation Academy for Precision Measurement Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - ShaoGang Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics, Innovation Academy for Precision Measurement Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - RenPing Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics, Innovation Academy for Precision Measurement Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - XiaoJun Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics, Innovation Academy for Precision Measurement Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China
| | | | - Sonia Erattupuzha
- Photonics Institute, Technische Universität Wien, A-1040 Vienna, Austria
| | - Seyedreza Larimian
- Photonics Institute, Technische Universität Wien, A-1040 Vienna, Austria
| | - Markus Koch
- Institute of Experimental Physics, Graz University of Technology, A-8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Václav Hanus
- Photonics Institute, Technische Universität Wien, A-1040 Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Gerhard Paulus
- Institute of Optics and Quantum Electronics, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, D-07743 Jena, Germany
| | - Andrius Baltuška
- Photonics Institute, Technische Universität Wien, A-1040 Vienna, Austria
| | - Xinhua Xie
- Photonics Institute, Technische Universität Wien, A-1040 Vienna, Austria
- SwissFEL, Paul Scherrer Institute, 5232 Villigen PSI, Switzerland
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5
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Shu Z, Liu M, Hu S, Chen J. Molecular Rydberg-state excitation in laser pulses: bandwidth and orbital symmetry. OPTICS EXPRESS 2020; 28:11165-11174. [PMID: 32403633 DOI: 10.1364/oe.390564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2020] [Accepted: 03/24/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
We have performed a comparison study of the Rydberg-state excitation of model molecules (1πg and 1πu states) in different laser fields by the approaches of time-dependent Schrödinger equation and a fully quantum-mechanical model, and both simulations show good accordance. It is found that the peak structure of the Rydberg-state population vs laser intensity becomes pronounced for longer laser pulses due to the stronger interference effect between the subwave packets released in different optical cycles, and the locations of the intensity-dependent peaks closely satisfy the multi-photon resonant transition condition. In addition, it is demonstrated that the populations of the Rydberg states possessing the identical parity oscillate in an inverse manner with increasing laser intensity for different initial states (1πg and 1πu), and the aforementioned distinct phenomenon is attributed to the additional phase introduced by the symmetry of 1πg state with respect to that of 1πu state.
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6
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Hu S, Hao X, Lv H, Liu M, Yang T, Xu H, Jin M, Ding D, Li Q, Li W, Becker W, Chen J. Quantum dynamics of atomic Rydberg excitation in strong laser fields. OPTICS EXPRESS 2019; 27:31629-31643. [PMID: 31684393 DOI: 10.1364/oe.27.031629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2019] [Accepted: 09/19/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Neutral atoms have been observed to survive intense laser pulses in high Rydberg states with surprisingly large probability. Only with this Rydberg-state excitation (RSE) included is the picture of intense-laser-atom interaction complete. Various mechanisms have been proposed to explain the underlying physics. However, neither one can explain all the features observed in experiments and in time-dependent Schrödinger equation (TDSE) simulations. Here we propose a fully quantum-mechanical model based on the strong-field approximation (SFA). It well reproduces the intensity dependence of RSE obtained by the TDSE, which exhibits a series of modulated peaks. They are due to recapture of the liberated electron and the fact that the pertinent probability strongly depends on the position and the parity of the Rydberg state. We also present measurements of RSE in xenon at 800 nm, which display the peak structure consistent with the calculations.
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7
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Schmid G, Schnorr K, Augustin S, Meister S, Lindenblatt H, Trost F, Liu Y, Miteva T, Gisselbrecht M, Düsterer S, Redlin H, Treusch R, Gokhberg K, Kuleff AI, Cederbaum LS, Schröter CD, Pfeifer T, Moshammer R. Tracing charge transfer in argon dimers by XUV-pump IR-probe experiments at FLASH. J Chem Phys 2019; 151:084314. [PMID: 31470702 DOI: 10.1063/1.5116234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Charge transfer (CT) at avoided crossings of excited ionized states of argon dimers is observed using a two-color pump-probe experiment at the free-electron laser in Hamburg (FLASH). The process is initiated by the absorption of three 27-eV-photons from the pump pulse, which leads to the population of Ar2+*-Ar states. Due to nonadiabatic coupling between these one-site doubly ionized states and two-site doubly ionized states of the type Ar+*-Ar+, CT can take place leading to the population of the latter states. The onset of this process is probed by a delayed infrared (800 nm) laser pulse. The latter ionizes the dimers populating repulsive Ar2+ -Ar+ states, which then undergo a Coulomb explosion. From the delay-dependent yields of the obtained Ar2+ and Ar+ ions, the lifetime of the charge-transfer process is extracted. The obtained experimental value of (531 ± 136) fs agrees well with the theoretical value computed from Landau-Zener probabilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georg Schmid
- Max-Planck-Institut für Kernphysik, Saupfercheckweg 1, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Kirsten Schnorr
- Max-Planck-Institut für Kernphysik, Saupfercheckweg 1, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Sven Augustin
- Max-Planck-Institut für Kernphysik, Saupfercheckweg 1, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Severin Meister
- Max-Planck-Institut für Kernphysik, Saupfercheckweg 1, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Hannes Lindenblatt
- Max-Planck-Institut für Kernphysik, Saupfercheckweg 1, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Florian Trost
- Max-Planck-Institut für Kernphysik, Saupfercheckweg 1, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Yifan Liu
- Max-Planck-Institut für Kernphysik, Saupfercheckweg 1, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Tsveta Miteva
- Theoretische Chemie, Physikalisch-Chemisches Institut, Universität Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 229, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | | | - Stefan Düsterer
- Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron, Notkestraße 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Harald Redlin
- Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron, Notkestraße 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Rolf Treusch
- Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron, Notkestraße 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Kirill Gokhberg
- Theoretische Chemie, Physikalisch-Chemisches Institut, Universität Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 229, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Alexander I Kuleff
- Theoretische Chemie, Physikalisch-Chemisches Institut, Universität Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 229, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Lorenz S Cederbaum
- Theoretische Chemie, Physikalisch-Chemisches Institut, Universität Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 229, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | | | - Thomas Pfeifer
- Max-Planck-Institut für Kernphysik, Saupfercheckweg 1, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Robert Moshammer
- Max-Planck-Institut für Kernphysik, Saupfercheckweg 1, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
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8
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Zhao Y, Zhou Y, Liang J, Zeng Z, Ke Q, Liu Y, Li M, Lu P. Frustrated tunneling ionization in the elliptically polarized strong laser fields. OPTICS EXPRESS 2019; 27:21689-21700. [PMID: 31510241 DOI: 10.1364/oe.27.021689] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2019] [Accepted: 07/02/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
We theoretically investigated frustrated tunneling ionization (FTI) in the interaction of atoms with elliptically polarized laser pulses by a semiclassical ensemble model. Our results show that the yield of frustrated tunneling ionization events exhibits an anomalous behavior which maximizes at the nonzero ellipticity. By tracing back the initial tunneling coordinates, we show that this anomalous behavior is due to the fact that the initial transverse velocity at tunneling of the FTI events is nonzero in the linear laser pulses and it moves across zero as the ellipticity increases. The FTI yield maximizes at the ellipticity when the initial transverse momentum for being trapped is zero. Moreover, the angular momentum distribution of the FTI events and its ellipticity dependence are also explored. The anomalous behavior revealed in our work is very similar to the previously observed ellipticity dependence of the near- and below-threshold harmonics, and thus our work may uncover the mechanism of the below-threshold harmonics which is still a controversial issue.
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9
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Zhang W, Gong X, Li H, Lu P, Sun F, Ji Q, Lin K, Ma J, Li H, Qiang J, He F, Wu J. Electron-nuclear correlated multiphoton-route to Rydberg fragments of molecules. Nat Commun 2019; 10:757. [PMID: 30765696 PMCID: PMC6375988 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-08700-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2018] [Accepted: 01/22/2019] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Atoms and molecules exposed to strong laser fields can be excited to the Rydberg states with very high principal quantum numbers and large orbitals. It allows acceleration of neutral particles, generate near-threshold harmonics, and reveal multiphoton Rabi oscillations and rich photoelectron spectra. However, the physical mechanism of Rydberg state excitation in strong laser fields is yet a puzzle. Here, we identify the electron-nuclear correlated multiphoton excitation as the general mechanism by coincidently measuring all charged and neutral fragments ejected from a H2 molecule. Ruled by the ac-Stark effect, the internuclear separation for resonant multiphoton excitation varies with the laser intensity. It alters the photon energy partition between the ejected electrons and nuclei and thus leads to distinct kinetic energy spectra of the nuclear fragments. The electron-nuclear correlation offers an alternative visual angle to capture rich ultrafast processes of complex molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenbin Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Precision Spectroscopy, East China Normal University, 200062, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaochun Gong
- State Key Laboratory of Precision Spectroscopy, East China Normal University, 200062, Shanghai, China
| | - Hui Li
- State Key Laboratory of Precision Spectroscopy, East China Normal University, 200062, Shanghai, China
| | - Peifen Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Precision Spectroscopy, East China Normal University, 200062, Shanghai, China
| | - Fenghao Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Precision Spectroscopy, East China Normal University, 200062, Shanghai, China
| | - Qinying Ji
- State Key Laboratory of Precision Spectroscopy, East China Normal University, 200062, Shanghai, China
| | - Kang Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Precision Spectroscopy, East China Normal University, 200062, Shanghai, China
| | - Junyang Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Precision Spectroscopy, East China Normal University, 200062, Shanghai, China
| | - Hanxiao Li
- State Key Laboratory of Precision Spectroscopy, East China Normal University, 200062, Shanghai, China
| | - Junjie Qiang
- State Key Laboratory of Precision Spectroscopy, East China Normal University, 200062, Shanghai, China
| | - Feng He
- Key Laboratory for laser Plasmas (Ministry of Education) and School of Physics and Astronomy, Collaborative innovation center for IFSA (CICIFSA), Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 200240, Shanghai, China.
| | - Jian Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Precision Spectroscopy, East China Normal University, 200062, Shanghai, China. .,Collaborative Innovation Center of Extreme Optics, Shanxi University, 030006, Taiyuan, Shanxi, China.
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10
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Yuan ZQ, Ye DF, Gu YQ, Liu J, Fu LB. Retrieving the excitation and polarization configurations in Coulomb explosion of a trimer driven by strong laser field. OPTICS EXPRESS 2019; 27:3180-3189. [PMID: 30732343 DOI: 10.1364/oe.27.003180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2018] [Accepted: 01/01/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Ultrafast imaging and manipulating transient molecular structures in chemical reactions and photobiological processes is a fundamental but challenging goal for scientists. Theoretically, the challenge originates from the complex multiple-time-scale correlated electron dynamics and their coupling with the nuclei. Here, we employ classical polyatomic models for this kind of study and take the Coulomb explosion of argon and neon trimers in strong laser fields as an illuminating example. Our results demonstrate that the degree of asymmetry on the kinetic energy release (KER) spectrum, together with a Dalitz plot, constitutes a powerful tool for retrieving the ionization, excitation, and polarization configurations (femtosecond-to-attosecond time-scale electron dynamics) of trimers under strong-field radiation.
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11
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Zhang W, Yu Z, Gong X, Wang J, Lu P, Li H, Song Q, Ji Q, Lin K, Ma J, Li H, Sun F, Qiang J, Zeng H, He F, Wu J. Visualizing and Steering Dissociative Frustrated Double Ionization of Hydrogen Molecules. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2017; 119:253202. [PMID: 29303298 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.119.253202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
We experimentally visualize the dissociative frustrated double ionization of hydrogen molecules by using few-cycle laser pulses in a pump-probe scheme, in which process the tunneling ionized electron is recaptured by one of the outgoing nuclei of the breaking molecule. Three internuclear distances are recognized to enhance the dissociative frustrated double ionization of molecules at different instants after the first ionization step. The recapture of the electron can be further steered to one of the outgoing nuclei as desired by using phase-controlled two-color laser pulses. Both the experimental measurements and numerical simulations suggest that the Rydberg atom is favored to emit to the direction of the maximum of the asymmetric optical field. Our results on the one hand intuitively visualize the dissociative frustrated double ionization of molecules, and on the other hand open the possibility to selectively excite the heavy fragment ejected from a molecule.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenbin Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Precision Spectroscopy, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, China
| | - Zuqing Yu
- Key Laboratory of Laser Plasmas (Ministry of Education) and School of Physics and Astronomy, Collaborative Innovation Center for IFSA (CICIFSA), Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Xiaochun Gong
- State Key Laboratory of Precision Spectroscopy, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, China
| | - Junping Wang
- Key Laboratory of Laser Plasmas (Ministry of Education) and School of Physics and Astronomy, Collaborative Innovation Center for IFSA (CICIFSA), Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Peifen Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Precision Spectroscopy, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, China
| | - Hui Li
- State Key Laboratory of Precision Spectroscopy, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, China
| | - Qiying Song
- State Key Laboratory of Precision Spectroscopy, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, China
| | - Qinying Ji
- State Key Laboratory of Precision Spectroscopy, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, China
| | - Kang Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Precision Spectroscopy, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, China
| | - Junyang Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Precision Spectroscopy, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, China
| | - Hanxiao Li
- State Key Laboratory of Precision Spectroscopy, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, China
| | - Fenghao Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Precision Spectroscopy, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, China
| | - Junjie Qiang
- State Key Laboratory of Precision Spectroscopy, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, China
| | - Heping Zeng
- State Key Laboratory of Precision Spectroscopy, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, China
| | - Feng He
- Key Laboratory of Laser Plasmas (Ministry of Education) and School of Physics and Astronomy, Collaborative Innovation Center for IFSA (CICIFSA), Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Jian Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Precision Spectroscopy, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, China
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Extreme Optics, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, Shanxi 030006, China
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12
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Cheng Q, Xie X, Yuan Z, Zhong X, Liu Y, Gong Q, Wu C. Dissociative Ionization of Argon Dimer by Intense Femtosecond Laser Pulses. J Phys Chem A 2017; 121:3891-3897. [PMID: 28470067 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpca.7b02044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
We experimentally and theoretically studied dissociative ionization of argon dimer driven by intense femtosecond laser pulses. In the experiment, we measured the ion yield and the angular distribution of fragmental ions generated from the dissociative ionization channels of (1,1) (Ar22+ → Ar+ + Ar+) and (2,1) (Ar23+ → Ar2+ + Ar+) using a cold target recoil ion momentum spectroscopy. The channel ratio of (2,1)/(1,1) is 4.5-7.5 times of the yield ratio of double ionization to single ionization of argon monomer depending on the laser intensity. The measurement verified that the ionization of Ar+ is greatly enhanced if there exists a neighboring Ar+ separated by a critical distance. In addition, the fragmental ions exhibit an anisotropic angular distribution with the peak along the laser polarization direction and the full width at half maximum becomes broader with increasing laser intensity. Using a full three-dimensional classical ensemble model, we calculated the angle-dependent multiple ionization probability of argon dimer in intense laser fields. The results show that the experimentally observed anisotropic angular distribution of fragmental ions can be attributed to the angle-dependent enhanced ionization of the argon dimer in intense laser fields.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Cheng
- State Key Laboratory for Mesoscopic Physics, Collaborative Innovation Center of Quantum Matter, School of Physics, Peking University , Beijing 100871, China
| | - Xiguo Xie
- State Key Laboratory for Mesoscopic Physics, Collaborative Innovation Center of Quantum Matter, School of Physics, Peking University , Beijing 100871, China
| | - Zongqiang Yuan
- Science and Technology on Plasma Physics Laboratory, Research Center of Laser Fusion, China Academy of Engineering Physics , Mianyang 621900, China
| | - Xunqi Zhong
- State Key Laboratory for Mesoscopic Physics, Collaborative Innovation Center of Quantum Matter, School of Physics, Peking University , Beijing 100871, China
| | - Yunquan Liu
- State Key Laboratory for Mesoscopic Physics, Collaborative Innovation Center of Quantum Matter, School of Physics, Peking University , Beijing 100871, China.,Collaborative Innovation Center of Extreme Optics, Shanxi University , Taiyuan, Shanxi 030006, China
| | - Qihuang Gong
- State Key Laboratory for Mesoscopic Physics, Collaborative Innovation Center of Quantum Matter, School of Physics, Peking University , Beijing 100871, China.,Collaborative Innovation Center of Extreme Optics, Shanxi University , Taiyuan, Shanxi 030006, China
| | - Chengyin Wu
- State Key Laboratory for Mesoscopic Physics, Collaborative Innovation Center of Quantum Matter, School of Physics, Peking University , Beijing 100871, China.,Collaborative Innovation Center of Extreme Optics, Shanxi University , Taiyuan, Shanxi 030006, China
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von Veltheim A, Manschwetus B, Quan W, Borchers B, Steinmeyer G, Rottke H, Sandner W. Frustrated tunnel ionization of noble gas dimers with Rydberg-electron shakeoff by electron charge oscillation. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2013; 110:023001. [PMID: 23383900 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.110.023001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2012] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Strong field single ionization of homo- and heteronuclear noble gas dimers with ultrashort infrared laser pulses is experimentally investigated. A pronounced photoelectron yield maximum is found for dimers in the momentum range |p|≤0.1 a.u. which is absent for the corresponding monomer. This yield enhancement can be attributed to a new two-step strong field ionization mechanism active only in the dimers. In the first step, frustrated tunnel ionization at one of the atomic centers populates Rydberg states, which then become ionized in a second step through charge oscillation within the dimer ion core.
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Affiliation(s)
- A von Veltheim
- Max-Born-Institut für Nichtlineare Optik und Kurzzeitspektroskopie, Max-Born-Straße 2A, D-12489 Berlin, Germany
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14
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Wu J, Kunitski M, Schmidt LPH, Jahnke T, Dörner R. Structures of N2Ar, O2Ar, and O2Xe dimers studied by Coulomb explosion imaging. J Chem Phys 2012; 137:104308. [DOI: 10.1063/1.4750980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
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15
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Wu J, Meckel M, Voss S, Sann H, Kunitski M, Schmidt LPH, Czasch A, Kim H, Jahnke T, Dörner R. Coulomb asymmetry in strong field multielectron ionization of diatomic molecules. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2012; 108:043002. [PMID: 22400834 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.108.043002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2011] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
We measure the angular distribution of an electron emitted by a strong elliptically polarized two-color laser field from exploding doubly charged molecular nitrogen. This angular distribution is vastly different for emission of the electron from the up-field core of the molecule as compared to that from the down-field core. The emission from the down-field core leads to a slight rotation with respect to the internuclear axis in the direction expected by the Coulomb effect of the remaining ion, while, for the emission from the up-field core, this direction is inversed. Our semiclassical simulations suggest that this unexpected angular distribution is caused by an initial longitudinal momentum of the electron freed by over-the-barrier ionization above the inner barrier in the molecule. The initial kinetic energy is in the range of the potential energy of the Stark-shifted orbital above the barrier.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Wu
- Institut für Kernphysik, Goethe Universität, Max-von-Laue-Strasse 1, D-60438 Frankfurt, Germany
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