Quantum beats and Kepler motion in fast competing photoionization and photodissociation processes

Electronic and nuclear wavepackets created by coherent excitation of an aut oionized and predissociated 'complex' resonance in H-2 are studied theoreti cally using time-dependent multichannel quantum defect theory. The calculat ions predict that quantum beats between the components of the complex reson ance interfere with Rydberg wavepacket (Kepler) motion to yield characteris tic 'mixed' flux patterns in the observable time-dependent ionization and d issociation signals.