Ultrafast imaging of multielectronic dissociative ionization of CO2 in an intense laser field

Momentum vectors of fragment ions produced by the Coulomb explosion of CO2z+ ( z = 3-6) in an intense laser field (similar to 50 fs, 1 x 10(15) W cm(-2)) are determined by the triple coincidence imaging technique. The molecular structure from symmetric and asymmetric explosion channels is reconstructed from the measured momentum vectors. The channel-dependent mean C-O bond length of < r >=2.14 - 3.89 angstrom and the O-C-O bend angle of = 170 - 175 degrees. confirm substantial deformation of the molecular skeleton during the laser-molecule interaction. The channel-dependent bond length data are qualitatively described using a classical enhanced ionization model. The kinetic energy spectra reveal interesting structure which is attributed to the existence of excited states in the fragment ions.