Molecular dynamics of CO in few-cycle laser fields

We experimentally study the ionization, fragmentation and Coulomb explosion of CO using 6 fs laser pulses. Different from previous observations in tens or hundreds of femtoseconds laser pulses, strong charge asymmetric dissociation and CO2+ are observed in the current intense few-cycle laser field.

Graphical abstractMass spectra of CO irradiated by 6 fs linearly polarized laser pulses at an intensity of 2 × 1015 W/cm2. Strong charge asymmetric dissociation (2, 0) is observed in the current intense few-cycle laser field.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide