Abstract

Numerical solutions of the time-dependent Schrôdinger equation have been obtained by using a split-exponential-operator method¹ for H₂⁺ in intense, short laser pulses and taking into account dissociation and ionization simultaneously. The exact time- dependent wave function thus obtained allows one to examine both electronic and proton evolution during and after the pulse. Competition between ionization and dissociation are shown to occur in view of the short time scale for the proton motion, τ_p ~ 10 fs, which is comparable to the ionization time scale at intensities I ≥. 10¹⁴ VW cm². At lower intensities, suppression of dissociation has been predicted to occur for specific initial vibrational levels and intensities² due to laser-induced avoided crossings between electronic states. The effect of ionization on such laser-induced stabilization of the nuclear states is examined in detail.

© 1995 Optical Society of America