https://doi.org/10.1140/epjd/s10053-023-00593-w
Regular Article – Molecular Physics and Chemical Physics
Formation of molecular Rydberg states in an intense laser field
School of Nuclear Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, 730000, Lanzhou, China
Received:
5
May
2022
Accepted:
16
December
2022
Published online:
3
February
2023
In this paper, we experimentally study the decay constants and the Rydberg states population of molecular ions generated in a strong laser field by using a time-of-flight mass spectrometer. The lifetime of molecular ions is determined by tuning the initial velocity of the aimed ions into the free flight zone of the mass-spectrometer, which is a facile and straightforward method. The lifetime of CO
is 13.91±5.31 
s, while that of CO
is 6.68±1.41 s. The lifetime of H
, H
O, and O are 2.93±1.25 s, 4.01±0.52 s, and 5.22±1.93 s. Part of the molecular ions are populated in the Rydberg states, and the distribution of their populations in the Rydberg states is achieved via precise calibration of the dc field of the acceleration region.
Copyright comment Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to EDP Sciences, SIF and Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2023. Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
