Ionization of one- and three-dimensionally-oriented asymmetric-top molecules by intense circularly polarized femtosecond laser pulses

Journal Article · Mon Feb 14 23:00:00 EST 2011 · Physical Review. A

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PHYSREVA.83.023406· OSTI ID:21537173

Hansen, Jonas L ^[1]; Holmegaard, Lotte; Kalhoej, Line; Kragh, Sofie Louise ^[2]; Stapelfeldt, Henrik ^[2]; Filsinger, Frank; Meijer, Gerard; Kuepper, Jochen; Dimitrovski, Darko; Abu-samha, Mahmoud; Martiny, Christian Per Juul; Madsen, Lars Bojer ^[3]

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1. Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNANO), Aarhus University, DK-8000 Aarhus C (Denmark)
2. Department of Chemistry, Aarhus University, DK-8000 Aarhus C (Denmark)
3. Fritz-Haber-Institut der Max-Planck-Gesellschaft, Faradayweg 4-6, D-14195 Berlin (Germany)

We present a combined experimental and theoretical study on strong-field ionization of a three-dimensionally-oriented asymmetric top molecule, benzonitrile (C{sub 7}H{sub 5}N), by circularly polarized, nonresonant femtosecond laser pulses. Prior to the interaction with the strong field, the molecules are quantum-state selected using a deflector and three-dimensionally (3D) aligned and oriented adiabatically using an elliptically polarized laser pulse in combination with a static electric field. A characteristic splitting in the molecular frame photoelectron momentum distribution reveals the position of the nodal planes of the molecular orbitals from which ionization occurs. The experimental results are supported by a theoretical tunneling model that includes and quantifies the splitting in the momentum distribution. The focus of the present article is to understand strong-field ionization from 3D-oriented asymmetric top molecules, in particular the suppression of electron emission in nodal planes of molecular orbitals. In the preceding article [Dimitrovski et al., Phys. Rev. A 83, 023405 (2011)] the focus is to understand the strong-field ionization of one-dimensionally-oriented polar molecules, in particular asymmetries in the emission direction of the photoelectrons.

• OSTI ID: 21537173
• Journal Information: Physical Review. A, Journal Name: Physical Review. A Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 83; ISSN 1050-2947; ISSN PLRAAN
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS
ASYMMETRY
BEAMS
ELECTRIC FIELDS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELECTRON EMISSION
EMISSION
IONIZATION
LASER RADIATION
MOLECULES
NITRILES
ONE-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
POLARIZED BEAMS
PULSES
RADIATIONS
THREE-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS
TUNNEL EFFECT