Multiple electron trapping in the fragmentation of strongly driven molecules

Abstract

We present a theoretical quasi-classical study of the formation, during Coulomb explosion, of two highly excited neutral H atoms (double H*) of strongly driven H2. In this process, after the laser field is turned off each electron occupies a Rydberg state of an H atom. We identify the route for forming two H* atoms and show that two-electron effects are important. We also find that both ionization steps are 'frustrated' in double H* formation, whereas only one ionization step is 'frustrated' for both the routes leading to single H* formation, as was shown by Emmanouilidou et al (2012 Phys. Rev. A 85 011402). Moreover, we compute the screened nuclear charge that drives the explosion of the nuclei during double H* formation. © IOP Publishing and Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft.