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A: Fachverband Atomphysik

A 17: Attosecond Physics (jointly with Q)

A 17.5: Talk

Wednesday, March 21, 2007, 15:15–15:30, 6G

Sub-cycle dynamics in the laser ionization of molecules — •Xinhua Xie, Marlene Wickenhauser, and Armin Scrinzi — TU Wien, Institut f. Photonik

During a single optical cycle of a strong laser pulse, electrons are driven out of a molecule, accelerated, and directed back onto their parent molecule, where they scatter or recombine. We present a precise definition of “emission time” and initial momentum distribution in the framework of the time-dependent Schrödinger equation (TDSE). Solving the TDSE numerically for two-dimensional model molecules, we find that electron emission from and re-collision with the molecule can develop pronounced time-structures that strongly depend on the molecular species, molecular orientation, and on laser intensity. The peak of emission can shift through a significant fraction of laser cycle. The structures are produced by laser-induced intra-molecular electron dynamics. The importance of these findings for high harmonic generation and molecular tomography will be discussed.