Molecules in intense laser fields - From charge resonance enhanced ionization to laser Coulomb explosion

Exact numerical solutions of the time dependent Schroedinger equation, TDSE , of one and two electron molecules and ions allow us to investigate the hi ghly nonlinear, nonperturbative behavior of such systems in the presence of ultrashort (t < 50 femtoseconds), intense (I greater than or equal to 10(1 4) W/cm(2)) laser pulses. Quasistatic models of ionization lead to a qualit ative understanding of a universal phenomenon occurring in these extreme co nditions: Charge Resonance Enhanced Ionization, CREI. Exact non-Born Oppenh eimer TDSE simulations of the dissociative-ionization of H-2(+) lead to the conclusion that CREI is responsible for anomalous kinetic energy distribut ions observed in Coulomb Explosion experiments, i.e., Coulomb explosions ar e non-Franck-Condon and occur at critical internuclear distances R-c and ge ometries. Analytic formulas are obtained for R-c which are shown to arise f rom charge resonance or transfer induced at the maximum field strength of t he laser fields.