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Phys. Rev. Lett. 92, 173001 (2004) [4 pages]

Influence of Molecular Structure on Double Ionization of N2 and O2 by High Intensity Ultrashort Laser Pulses

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E. Eremina1, X. Liu1, H. Rottke1, W. Sandner1, M. G. Schätzel2, A. Dreischuh2,3, G. G. Paulus2,4,5, H. Walther2,4, R. Moshammer6, and J. Ullrich6
1Max-Born-Institut, Max-Born-Strasse 2a, 12489 Berlin, Germany
2Max-Planck-Institut für Quantenoptik, Hans-Kopfermann-Strasse 1, 85748 Garching, Germany
3Department of Quantum Electronics, Sofia University, 5 James Bourchier Boulevard, 1164 Sofia, Bulgaria
4Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Am Coulombwall 1, 85748 Garching, Germany
5Department of Physics, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843-4242, USA
6Max-Planck-Institut für Kernphysik, Saupfercheckweg 1, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany

Received 4 September 2003; published 26 April 2004

The electron momentum correlation after nonsequential double ionization of N2 and O2 in ultrashort light pulses at light intensities near 1.5×1014   W/cm2 has been investigated. The experimental results reveal distinctive differences between the molecular species and between molecules and atoms of similar ionization threshold. We provide evidence that recollision double ionization is the essential mechanism and trace the origin of the differences back to the symmetry of the orbitals occupied by the valence electrons.

© 2004 The American Physical Society

URL:
http://link.aps.org/doi/10.1103/PhysRevLett.92.173001
DOI:
10.1103/PhysRevLett.92.173001
PACS:
33.80.Rv, 33.80.Wz
 
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