Laser control of low-temperature reaction e − + O 2 +

Abstract

A theory is developed to describe dissociative recombination of a slow electron with a ground-state molecular ion of oxygen driven by a strong monochromatic electromagnetic field. Mathematically, the theory is based on the time-independent formalism of radiative scattering matrix whose poles correspond to dressed intermediate states of the complex. The analysis embraces both transitions to dissociative states and laserinduced nonadiabatic transitions to intermediate bound states of valence configurations. Key reaction mechanisms are considered, and a classification is given of all allowed transitions to dissociative states. Partial and total reaction cross sections are calculated by taking into account the contributions from Rydberg, valence, and dissociative states of O2**. A detailed discussion of results is presented, and feasibility of laser control of the reaction is demonstrated.