Clearly structured fragment kinetic energy spectra discovered in the Coulomb explosion of H $\mathsf{_{2}^{+}}$ and D $\mathsf{_{2}^{+}}$

Abstract

In an ion beam experiment the Coulomb explosion of H2 + and D2 + in intense laser fields was investigated. The kinetic energy spectra of the fragments H+ and D+ show strong structure at laser intensities close to the threshold. They can be interpreted by net two-photon dissociation followed by Coulomb explosion at a sharp critical internuclear distance.