Eur. Phys. J. D 26, 111-118 (2003)
https://doi.org/10.1140/epjd/e2003-00203-9

Control of the Coulomb explosion of I₂

FOM Institute for Atomic and Molecular Physics (AMOLF), Kruislaan 407, 1098 SJ Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Corresponding author: ^a vrakking@amolf.nl

Received: 6 January 2003
Revised: 20 February 2003
Published online: 15 July 2003

Abstract

We present calculated results for the optimization highly-charged fragment ion formation in the Coulomb explosion of I₂ in an intense laser field. Calculations are performed using a simple genetic algorithm and a classical model for the Coulomb explosion process. We find that at low intensity the production of highly-charged fragment ions is optimized by a Fourier-limited pulse, whereas at higher intensity the Coulomb explosion is optimized by a sequence of pulses, with a time-separation determined by enhanced ionization at the critical internuclear distance. Our calculations provide insight into the sensitivity of adaptive pulse shaping experiments to the parameters and evolutionary approaches used.