The Multielectron Ionization Dynamics Underlying Attosecond Strong-Field Spectroscopies

Abstract

Which Electron Went Where? When strong laser fields pull electrons out of atoms or molecules and then send them careening back, the light released on recollision can offer direct insight into local attosecond-scale behavior, or it can be processed into attosecond pulses for probing other samples. When polyatomic molecules are involved, however, it is not always clear which of their electrons are being manipulated by the laser field. Boguslavskiy et al. (p. 1336 ; see the Perspective by Gühr ) present a technique for exploring this question. Simultaneous tracking of electrons and fragment molecular ions during strong-field ionization of hydrocarbons revealed the different pathways involved.