Title: Directional Emission of Multiply-Charged Ions During Dissociative Ionization in Asymmetric Two-Color Laser Fields

K.J. Betsch, D.W. Pinkham, and R.R. Jones

Abstract:

Intense, asymmetric 1w+2w 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, phi, between the two fields, we observe large forward/backward dissociation asymmetries. The largest asymmetries are obtained at the same values of phi 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.

Status: Physical Review Letters 105, 223002 (2010).