VIBRATION, ROTATION, AND DISSOCIATION OF MOLECULAR-IONS IN A STRONG LASER FIELD

Vibration, rotation,and dissociation of the simple diatomic molecular Cl-2(+) and H-2(+) ions perturbed by a strong laser pulse with linear polarization are considered in the framework of classic mechanics. The duration of the laser pulse influences the rotation of the molecular axis and the vibration of the internuclear separation. The molecular a xis of the heavy molecular ion Cl-2(+) is strongly rotated at the and of an ultrashort laser pulse, whereas the alignment of the H-2(+)-ion axis occurs during the rise of a long laser pulse owing to quick disso ciation. Angular distributions of protons in dissociation of the H-2() ion are calculated. (C) 1998 Optical Society of America [S0740-3224( 98)04807-3] OCIS code: 140.3460.