Observation of Enhanced Ionization of Molecular Ions in Intense Laser Fields

Abstract
Using ultrashort pulse multiphoton ionization, we launch a wave packet in the I22+ state that dissociates into the fragments I2+ and I. We measure its multiphoton ionization probability as a function of its internuclear distance with an intense delayed probe pulse. If the probe pulse is polarized parallel to the internuclear axis, we observe a peak in the ionization yield at a critical distance of 5–6 Å. No such enhancement is seen with perpendicular polarization in agreement with the model of enhanced ionization by electron localization.

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