Aligning molecules with intense nonresonant laser fields

Molecules in a seeded supersonic beam are aligned by the interaction betwee n an intense nonresonant linearly polarized laser field and the molecular p olarizability. We demonstrate the general applicability of the scheme by al igning I-2, ICl, CS2, CH3I, and C6H5I molecules. The alignment is probed by mass selective two dimensional imaging of the photofragment ions produced by femtosecond laser pulses. Calculations on the degree of alignment of I-2 are in good agreement with the experiments. We discuss some future applica tions of laser aligned molecules. (C) 1999 American Institute of Physics. [ S0021-9606(99)01541-X].