Dissociation dynamics of multiply charged CH3I in moderately intense laser fields

We report on the fragmentation of multiply charged CH3I ions through dissociative ionization and Coulomb explosion induced by moderately intense (1012-1013 W/cm(2)) ultrashort laser fields. Velocity map imaging of the fragment ions as a function of pulse duration, ranging from 25 fs to 1.5 ps, leads to kinetic energies, angular distributions, and the relative ion yield in different channels of these fragments. We propose possible pathways for the fragmentation channels based on the kinetic energies and theoretical potential energy curves. For the energetic fragments, we observe an enhanced yield with increasing pulse duration. A simple one-dimensional classical model of wave-packet propagation over the proposed intermediate state potential energy curve is used to estimate the ionization probability as a function of pulse duration. Our results suggest that a delayed enhanced ionization is a consequence of rearrangement of the energies of the molecular orbitals following bond stretching. The resultant energy upshift of the inner orbitals at larger internuclear separation gives rise to resonant multiorbital coupling at a critical distance, which enables enhanced ionization for longer pulses.

Automated summary

In this study, we investigated the fragmentation of multiply charged CH3I ions induced by moderately intense ultrashort laser fields. The results show an increase in fragment yield with longer pulse durations. Analysis based on theoretical models suggests that enhanced ionization is a result of rearrangement of molecular orbitals leading to increased resonance multiorbital coupling at critical distances.