Strong Field Molecular Ionization

本工作的重点是发展我们的理解强场分子电离的脉冲整形，速度图成像检测分子碎片离子和密切合作的理论。我们的研究计划借鉴了我们以前的NSF资助的强场相干控制工作，并由三个主要的推力。 首先是研究强场电离产生的电子波包。在强超快激光脉冲中，强场电离可导致多种离子态的布居和阿秒电子动力学的产生。我们感兴趣的是表征离子状态的填充，以及这如何取决于激光脉冲参数。从电子激发的分子电离的研究包括我们的第二个推力领域。通过研究电子激发态的电离，可以考察Dyson重叠投影对强场电离的有效性，加深对分子中电子关联的理解。我们的第三个领域是通过强场电离和速度图成像来跟踪中性激发态弛豫。强场电离作为激发态分子动力学的探针具有许多优势，可以深入了解解离和内部转换。该研究计划不断寻求将教学和研究结合起来，同时影响广泛的参与者。参与研究的人员包括本科生（通过NSF本科生研究经验计划访问学生以及斯托尼布鲁克大学的学生），当地高中教师（通过NSF教师研究经验计划），研究生，博士后研究员和访问学者（通过NSF罗阿计划）。这项工作本质上是多学科的，并鼓励学生在物理和化学之间的边界发展知识和兴趣。它还提供光学，超快激光技术，真空硬件，数据采集硬件和计算机编程等战神的优秀技术和科学培训。

This work is focused on developing our understanding of strong field molecular ionization by using pulse shaping, velocity map imaging detection of molecular fragment ions and close collaboration with theory. Our research program draws upon our previous NSF funded work on strong field coherent control, and is composed of three main thrusts. First is the study of electron wave packets generated via strong field ionization. Strong field ionization in an intense ultrafast laser pulse can result in the population of multiple ionic states and the generation of attosecond electron dynamics. We are interested in characterizing which ionic states are populated and how this depends on laser pulse parameters. The study of molecular ionization from electronically excited molecules comprises our second thrust area. By studying ionization from electronically excited states, we can investigate the validity of Dyson overlap projections for strong field ionization and deepen our understanding of electron correlation in molecules. Our third area is following neutral excited state relaxation via strong field ionization and velocity map imaging. Strong field ionization has many advantages as a probe of excited state molecular dynamics, providing insight into dissociation and internal conversion.This research program continually seeks to integrate teaching and research while impacting a large range of participants. People involved in the research include undergraduate students (visiting students through the NSF Research Experience for Undergraduates program as well as students at Stony Brook University), local high school teachers (through the NSF Research Experience for Teachers program), graduate students, postdoctoral fellows and visiting scholars (through the NSF ROA program). The work is inherently multi-disciplinary, and encourages students to develop knowledge and interests at the boundary between physics and chemistry. It also provides excellent technical and scientific training in the enabling ares of optics, ultrafast laser technology, vacuum hardware, data acquisition hardware and computer programming.