Alignment-Dependent Ionization of N2, O2, and CO2 in Intense Laser Fields

The ionization probability of N-2, O-2, and CO2 in intense laser fields is studied theoretically as a function of the alignment angle by solving the time-dependent Schrodinger equation numerically assuming only the single-active-electron approximation. The results are compared to recent experimental data [D. Pavicic et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 98, 243001 (2007)] and good agreement is found for N-2 and O-2. For CO2 a possible explanation is provided for the failure of simplified single-active-electron models to reproduce the experimentally observed narrow ionization distribution. It is based on a field-induced coherent core-trapping effect.