Instantaneous ionization rate of H$_2^+$ in intense laser field; Interpretation of the Enhanced Ionization

Abstract

The fixed-nuclei full dimensional time-dependent Schr \"odinger equation is directly solved for H$_2^+$ in the linearly polarized laser field of $I \sim 1.0 \times 10^{14}$W cm$^{-2}$ and $\lambda \sim 1064 $nm Instantaneous ionization rate has been introduced and calculated by evaluating the instantaneous imaginary energy of the system. It is shown that positive (negative) values of instantaneous imaginary energy of the system represent the incoming (outgoing) instantaneous current of electron. This approach allows us to determine not only the instantaneous intensity but also the instantaneous direction of the electronic current. The transient behavior of the electron wavepacket in intense laser field can thus be probed precisely. Details of the enhanced ionization rates are studied based on the instantaneous ionization rates. This approach gives direct evidence for existence of the effect of charge-resonance-enhanced multiphoton resonances of the quasi-energy states (QES) with excited electronic states at some particular internuclear distances. Finally, Contributions of the individual time dependent Floquet QES to the overall ionization rates are evaluated.