Vibrational wave packet generation and time evolution in diatomic ions

Abstract

A theoretical calculation of the generation and the time evolution of vibrational wave packets in diatomic ions is described. Under the irradiation of a short laser pulse, the alkali-rare gas van der Waals molecule may undergo photoionization and the ground state vibrational wavepacket is set up at the resulting alkali-rare gas ion potential. The temporal behavior and the spontaneous emission of the wave packets are described. The effect of the vibrationally and rotationally excited states of the initial electronic ground state on the dispersion of the generated total vibrational wave packet is also discussed.