Photofragmentation of Na2+ in intense femtosecond laser fields: from photodissociation on light-induced potentials to field ionization.

Photofragmentation of Na2 + molecules in well prepared vibrational levels has been studied employing intense ( 10(11)-10(14) W/cm2) and ultrashort (80 fs) 790 nm laser fields. Four fragmentation channels with different released kinetic energies are observed. Depending on the applied laser intensity, the fragmentation of Na2 + is governed by photodissociation on light-induced potentials and field ionization followed by Coulomb explosion. Below 1x10(12) W/cm2, only photodissociation on light-induced potentials is seen. For intermediate laser intensities, field ionization at large internuclear distances competes with photodissociation, thus preventing the observation of above threshold dissociation. Field ionization at small internuclear distances dominates for the highest laser intensities used.