Inside a Focused Laser Beam: Molecular Dynamics with Intense Femtosecond Radiation Pulses

这项研究的重点是通过使用离子质谱仪进行光电离实验来增强对分子强场光动力学的理解，该离子质谱仪从激光焦点中剪切出微小的微米级三维体积，并能够检测仅在该体积内产生的离子。因为在这个封闭的体积中的分子数量是固定的，并且其内部的强度恒定，所以测量的离子信号是对单个强度的光电离概率的真实测量。更广泛的影响包括通过每月的科学专栏对学生进行教育，并向社区宣传学生在项目上的进展。

This research focuses on enhancing the understanding of molecular intense-field photodynamics by carrying out photoionization experiments using an ion mass spectrometer that clips out a tiny, micron-sized, three-dimensional volume from a laser focus and enables detection of ions created only inside this volume. Because the number of molecules in this confined volume is fixed, and the intensity inside it constant, the measured ion signal is a true measure of the photoionization probability for one single intensity. The broader impact involves education of students and outreach to the community via a monthly science column with student progress on projects.