The potential energy surfaces of He 2+: implications for femtosecond spectroscopy

Abstract

The potential energy surfaces of the ground state and excited states of the helium dimer ion (He 2 +) are calculated using MRSDCI wavefunctions. Wavepacket dynamics simulations are performed on the excited B-state ( 2Π u) of He 2 + to illustrate the interesting aspects of this prototypical 3-electron system. Implications for femtosecond and sub-femtosecond pump-probe laser experiments are discussed.