Electronic and nuclear correlation dynamics of H2+ in an intense femtosecond laser pulse

We investigate the wave packet dynamics of H-2(+) in a strong (greater than or equal to 10(14)W/cm(2)) femtosecond pulse by solving the time-dependent Schrodinger equation for a 3D model Hamiltonian (molecular orientation is fixed). As the 3D packet moves towards larger internuclear distances, the response to the laser electric field switches from the adiabatic one to the diabatic one. Electron density transfers from a well associated with a nucleus to the other well every half optical cycle, following which the interwell transition is suppressed. As a result, the electron is distributed asymmetrically. In the adiabatic region, the correlation between the electronic and nuclear motions slows down the dissociative motion and it is clearly observed in periodic interwell transitions within a half cycle. (C) 1998 Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.