Selective ionization of oriented nonpolar molecules with asymmetric structure by phase-controlled two-color laser fields

Asymmetric Dissociative Tunneling Ionization of Tetrafluoromethane in ω − 2ω Intense Laser Fields

Dissociative ionization of tetrafluoromethane (CF₄) in linearly polarized ω-2ω ultrashort intense laser fields (1.4 × 10¹⁴ W/cm², 800 and 400 nm) has been investigated by three-dimensional momentum ion imaging. The spatial distribution of CF3+ produced by CF₄ → CF3+ + F + e⁻ exhibited a clear asymmetry with respect to the laser polarization direction. The degree of the asymmetry varies by the relative phase of the ω and 2ω laser fields, showing that 1) the breaking of the four equivalent C-F bonds can be manipulated by the laser pulse shape and 2) the C-F bond directed along the larger amplitude side of the ω-2ω electric fields tends to be broken. Weak-field asymptotic theory (WFAT) shows that the tunneling ionization from the 4t₂ second highest-occupied molecular orbital (HOMO-1) surpasses that from the 1t₁ HOMO. This predicts the enhancement of the tunneling ionization with electric fields pointing from F to C, in the direction opposite to that observed for the asymmetric fragment ejection. Possible mechanisms involved in the asymmetric dissociative ionization, such as post-ionization interactions, are discussed.

Helicity-dependent dissociative tunneling ionization of CF4 in multicycle circularly polarized intense laser fields

Dissociative tunneling ionization of tetrafluoromethane (CF₄) in circularly polarized ultrashort intense laser fields (35 fs, 0.8 × 10¹⁴ W cm^-2, 1035 nm), CF₄ → CF₄⁺ + e^- → CF₃⁺ + F + e^-, has been studied by three-dimensional electron-ion coincidence momentum imaging. The photoelectron angular distribution in the recoil frame revealed that the dissociative tunneling ionization occurs efficiently when the laser electric field points from F to C. The obtained results are qualitatively consistent with the theoretical predictions by the weak-field asymptotic theory (WFAT) for tunneling ionization from the highest and next-highest occupied molecular orbitals, HOMO (1t₁), and HOMO-1 (4t₂), respectively. On the other hand, the angular distribution shows clear dependences on the polarization helicity, indicating that the breaking of the C-F bonds is sensitive to the helicity of the multicycle circularly polarized laser fields.

Experimental Separation of Subcycle Ionization Bursts in Strong-Field Double Ionization of H_{2}

We report on the unambiguous observation of the subcycle ionization bursts in sequential strong-field double ionization of H_{2} and their disentanglement in molecular frame photoelectron angular distributions. This observation was made possible by the use of few-cycle laser pulses with a known carrier-envelope phase, in combination with multiparticle coincidence momentum imaging. The approach demonstrated here will allow sampling of the intramolecular electron dynamics and the investigation of charge-state-specific Coulomb distortions on emitted electrons in polyatomic molecules.

Ultrashort polarization-tailored bichromatic fields from a CEP-stable white light supercontinuum

We apply ultrafast polarization shaping to an ultrabroadband carrier envelope phase (CEP) stable white light supercontinuum to generate polarization-tailored bichromatic laser fields of low-order frequency ratio. The generation of orthogonal linearly and counter-rotating circularly polarized bichromatic fields is achieved by introducing a composite polarizer in the Fourier plane of a 4 f polarization shaper. The resulting Lissajous- and propeller-type polarization profiles are characterized experimentally by cross-correlation trajectories. The scheme provides full control over all bichromatic parameters and allows for individual spectral phase modulation of both colors. Shaper-based CEP control and the generation of tailored bichromatic fields is demonstrated. These bichromatic CEP-stable polarization-shaped ultrashort laser pulses provide a versatile class of waveforms for coherent control experiments.

Selective bond breaking of CO2 in phase-locked two-color intense laser fields: laser field intensity dependence

One of the two equivalent C–O bonds of CO₂ can be selectively broken by phase-locked two-color intense laser fields.

One Versus Two Photon Control of Dynamical Tunneling: Influence of the Irregular Floquet States

A useful approach to control quantum processes involves driving systems with two colored laser fields and varying the relative phase between the fields to control the quantum interferences. A particularly interesting class of bichromatic control schemes involves the so-called M versus N-photon control that results in laser-induced symmetry breaking and leads to directed transport; however, recent studies have shown that the mechanism of laser-induced symmetry breaking has a common classical and quantum origin. In this context, a relevant question is the extent to which such a detailed classical-quantum correspondence holds if the process to be controlled involves quantum tunneling. In this work, we address this issue in terms of controlling dynamical tunneling between field-induced islands of stability in the classical phase space of a model system, a periodically driven pendulum. This is also a paradigmatic model for Hamiltonian ratchets wherein the islands of stability, that is, nonlinear resonances, play a crucial role in the observed directed transport. We compute an appropriate control landscape for the process and show that despite breaking the relevant symmetries, there exist regions in the control landscape where the control fails. The lack of control can be understood in terms of the phase-space nature of the quantum Floquet states that participate in the dynamics of the initial wavepacket. We argue that robust regions of no control arise due to the phenomenon of chaos-assisted tunneling and comment on the possible influence of such regions on the directed transport in the model system.

Two-dimensional directional proton emission in dissociative ionization of H(2)

An intense phase-controlled orthogonally polarized two-color ultrashort laser pulse is used to singly ionize and dissociate H_{2} into a neutral hydrogen atom and a proton. Emission-direction and kinetic-energy dependent asymmetric dissociation of H_{2} is observed as a function of the relative phase of the orthogonally polarized two-color pulse. Significant asymmetric proton emission is measured in the direction between two polarization axes. Our numerical simulations of the time-dependent Schrödinger equation reproduce many of the observed features. The asymmetry is attributed to the coherent superposition of two-dimensional nuclear wave packets with opposite parities, which have the same energies and overlap in the same emission directions.

Directional emission of multiply charged ions during dissociative ionization in asymmetric two-color laser fields

Intense, asymmetric 1ω+2ω laser fields are used to affect the directional ejection of multiply charged ion fragments from a variety of molecules, including N2, O2, CO, HBr, and CO2. By tuning the relative phase, ϕ, between the two fields, we observe large forward-backward dissociation asymmetries. The largest asymmetries are obtained at the same values of ϕ for all species, suggesting a common dynamical mechanism. Following an independent phase calibration, the sign of the asymmetry appears to be opposite that expected from the standard enhanced ionization model.

Optimal alignment control of a nonpolar molecule through nonresonant multiphoton transitions

Alignment control of an ensemble of nonpolar molecules is numerically studied by means of optimal control simulation. A nitrogen molecule that is modeled by a quantum rigid rotor is adopted. Controlled rotational wave packets are created through nonresonant optical transitions induced by polarizability coupling. Optimal pulses are designed to achieve the alignment control at a specified time in the absence/presence of external static fields in zero- and finite-temperature cases, as well as to maintain an aligned state. When maintaining an aligned state over a specified time interval is chosen as a target, the control mechanism is primarily attributed to a dynamical one. Multiple optimal solutions that lead to virtually the same control achievement are found, which are consistent with the topology of the quantum control landscape.

Vibrationally selective optimal control of alignment and orientation using infrared laser pulses: application to carbon monoxide

Optimal control methods are used to study molecular alignment and orientation using infrared laser pulses. High order molecule-field interactions are taken into account through the use of the electric-nuclear Born-Oppenheimer approximation [G. G. Balint-Kurti et al., J. Chem. Phys. 122, 084110 (2005)]. High degrees of alignment and orientation are achieved by optimized infrared laser pulses of duration on the order of one rotational period of the molecule. It is shown that, through the incorporation of a vibrational projection operator into the optimization procedure, it is possible not only to maximize the alignment and orientation but also to bring the whole system into a single prescribed vibrational manifold. Numerical calculations are performed for carbon monoxide using ab initio potential energies computed in the presence of external electric fields.