Study of the interactions of intense laser beams and of fast-ion beams with molecules

Abstract

Molecular dynamics in intense, pulsed laser fields is an emerging frontier of research in laser-matter interactions. Mass spectrometric techniques are essential to understanding the behaviour of molecules in such fields. We present some salient features of this activity and review some of our recent experimental observations. Results concerning the roles of dissociation and ionization of simple diatomics and triatomics are presented. Further, comparisons are made between the forces experienced by molecules in intense laser fields and in collisions with fast ion projectiles. The dissociative ionization patterns of CS₂ and CH₄ in the two situations are discussed and the differences in the intense laser field dissociative ionization are attributed to the polarization property of laser light.