Abstract

The fundamental processes surrounding the interaction of intense laser pulses with atoms is well advanced. Recently attention has been turned to similar interactions involving molecules.¹ We describe some results of the ionization of D₂O molecules by intense CO₂ laser pulses with a duration of 1.5 ns at 10.6 µm and an intensity of 10¹² W/cm². Time-of-flight spectra in the present experiment demonstrate fragmentation rich in structure, a marked difference from experiments performed with pulses of 100 ns duration.² The major peaks in the spectra, which include D⁺, DO⁺, (DO)₂⁺, (D₂O)₂⁺, etc., and proposed processes will be discussed. Negative ions have not been detected. The proposed sequences will be verified by correlation calculations now in progress.

© 1990 Optical Society of America