Proton transfer dynamics following strong-field ionization of the water dimer

Abstract

Proton transfer is a common process occurring in biologic tissues and chemical reactions involving water which evolves on the femtosecond timescale. We induce and investigate proton transfer through strong-field ionization of isolated water dimers using ultrashort intense laser pulses. Ionization gives rise to ionic molecular dynamics which terminates in proton transfer and dissociation of the singly charged ion, but also in undissociated ${({\mathrm{H}}_{2}\mathrm{O})}_{2}{}^{+}$ ions. Double ionization allows us to experimentally determine the proton transfer rate in ${({\mathrm{H}}_{2}\mathrm{O})}_{2}{}^{+}$ in the electronic ground state.