TIME-RESOLVED COULOMB EXPLOSION IMAGING - A METHOD TO MEASURE STRUCTURE AND DYNAMICS OF MOLECULAR NUCLEAR WAVE-PACKETS

Coulomb explosion of molecules induced by an intense femtosecond probe laser pulse provides an approach to measure structure and dynamics of internuclear wave packets on a natural spatial (Angstrom) and tempora l (fs) scale for molecules. The technique is illustrated by applying i t to study photodissociation of I, initiated by a femtosecond pump pul se. We report a resolution of similar to 2-4 Angstrom in the internucl ear range similar to 7-14 Angstrom using an SO-fs probe pulse. We disc uss the ultimate spatial and temporal resolution of the technique, as well as the possibilities of observing dynamics of dissociating polyat omic molecules. Intense femtosecond laser pulses not only provide a wa y of probing molecular dynamics but they are also an efficient means t o initiate dynamics in, e.g., molecular ionic states.