The importance of Rydberg orbitals in dissociative ionization of small hydrocarbon molecules in intense few-cycle laser pulses

D G Schmitz,T G Burwitz,U Ablikim,E Wells,R de Vivie-Riedle,Bethany Jochim,K J Betsch,M F Kling,Ben Berry,A Voznyuk,I Ben-Itzhak,M Zohrabi,Nora G Kling,K D Carnes,T Severt,J B Mahowald,R Siemering

doi:10.1088/1742-6596/635/11/112043

Abstract

SynopsisWe demonstrate the importance of ionization from Rydberg orbitals via experimental and theoretical work focusing on the strong-field dissociative single ionization of small hydrocarbons. Our findings suggest that Rydberg states should be routinely considered when studying polyatomic molecules in intense laser fields.

Highlights

Our findings suggest that Rydberg states should be routinely considered when studying polyatomic molecules in intense laser fields
Much of our intuition about strong-field processes is built upon studies of diatomic molecules, which have electronic states that are typically well separated in energy
We studied a specific process initiated by intense few-cycle laser pulses in C2D2, C2D4, and C2D6, namely single ionization of the parent molecule followed by hydrogen elimination

Summary

Introduction

Much of our intuition about strong-field processes is built upon studies of diatomic molecules, which have electronic states that are typically well separated in energy. Our findings suggest that Rydberg states should be routinely considered when studying polyatomic molecules in intense laser fields.

Results

Conclusion