Multiphoton ionization of dissociating D2+ molecules

We report? the observation of probe pulse multiphoton ionization (MPI) of dissociating D-2(+) molecular ions. D-2(+) is formed by a pump light pulse through MPI of D-2 at the equilibrium internuclear separation. The ions then dissociate in a Roquet one- and two-photon channel. MPI of D-2(+) is observed as a pump-probe delay rime-dependent structure in high-resolution D+ ion kinetic energy distributions. The dependence on delay rime is caused by Coulomb repulsion of the two bare deuterons after D-2(+): MPI which changes with the internuclear separation where the ions are hit by the probe light pulse. A model calculation shows that in the experiment we probably only observe those ions dissociating in the two-photon channel. [S1050-2947(99)01304-9].