Experimental evidence of excited multicharged atomic fragments coming fromlaser-induced Coulomb explosion of molecules

Direct experimental evidence is presented for the production of excited mul ticharged atomic fragments in the laser-induced Coulomb explosion of molecu les. The comparison of the fluorescence signals of several atomic and molec ular species shows that the excited fragments come from transient excited m ulticharged molecules. The atomic fluorescence spectra recorded with NH3, N -2, and N2O, in the 50-120 nm wavelength range, show that the excitation in creases noticeably from NH3 to N2O. This effect is interpreted in terms of the initial electronic configuration, which favors a stronger excitation wh en the electronic density is more delocalized on the molecular nuclear stru cture.