LASER-INDUCED STABILIZATION AND ALIGNMENT IN MULTIPHOTON DISSOCIATION OF DIATOMIC-MOLECULES

The two step photodissociation (1 (1)SIGMA(g)+ --> 1 (1)SIGMA(u)+ --> 1 (1)PI(g)) transition in Li2 is studied by a coupled equations method. The first transition is assumed weak and selects particular rovibrational states as intermediate states. The second transition is induced by a high intensity infrared laser. The photodissociation yield for different isotopes is investigated as well as the coherence effects in the excited intermediate states produced by the intense field. Stabilization of dressed molecular states and laser induced alignment effects are shown to occur in the photodissociation at high intensities of the second laser. The effect of the polarization of the lasers on the differential cross sections is also discussed.