Abstract
We investigate theoretically the dissociative ionization of an molecule using two ultrashort laser (pump-probe) pulses. The pump pulse prepares a dissociating nuclear wave packet on an ungerade surface of . Next, an ultraviolet [or extreme ultraviolet (XUV)] probe pulse ionizes this dissociating state at large ( bohr) internuclear distance. We calculate the momenta distributions of protons and photoelectrons which show a (two-slit-like) interference structure. A general, simple interference formula is obtained which depends on the electron and protons momenta, as well as, on the pump-probe delay and also on the durations and polarizations of the laser pulses. This pump-probe scheme reveals a striking quantum delocalization of the electron over two protons which intuitively should be localized on just one of the protons separated by the distance much larger than the atomic Bohr orbit.
- Received 12 February 2010
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.81.062101
©2010 American Physical Society