Imaging the time-dependent structure of a molecule as it undergoes dynamics

Abstract

We image the dynamics of diatomic and triatomic molecules with sub-5 fs and sub-A resolution using laser Coulomb explosion imaging with 8 fs pulses. We obtain image information by measuring the vector momenta of all atomic ions produced by explosion of a single molecule. We image vibrating D{sub 2}{sup +} and of dissociating SO{sub 2}{sup 2+} and SO{sub 2}{sup 3+}. Images taken at 0 and 60 fs show that the dissociation of SO{sub 2}{sup 2+} produces an SO{sup +} rotational wave packet.