Electron localization in dissociating $H_2^+$ by retroaction of a photoelectron onto its source

M. Waitz; D. Aslitürk; N. Wechselberger; H. K. Gill; J. Rist; F. Wiegandt; C. Goihl; G. Kastirke; M. Weller; T. Bauer; D. Metz; F. P. Sturm; J. Voigtsberger; S. Zeller; F. Trinter; G. Schiwietz; T. Weber; J. B. Williams; M. S. Schöffler; L. Ph. H. Schmidt; T. Jahnke; R. Dörner

doi:10.1103/physrevlett.116.043001

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arXiv · 1601.06012

Electron localization in dissociating $H_2^+$ by retroaction of a photoelectron onto its source

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Abstract

We investigate the dissociation of $H_2^+$ into a proton and a $H^0$ after single ionization with photons of an energy close to the threshold. We find that the $p^+$ and the $H^0$ do not emerge symmetrically in case of the $H_2^+$ dissociating along the $1s\sigma_g$ ground state. Instead, a preference for the ejection of the $p^+$ in the direction of the escaping photoelectron can be observed. This symmetry breaking is strongest for very small electron energies. Our experiment is consistent with a recent prediction by Serov and Kheifets [Phys. Rev. A 89, 031402 (2014)]. In their model, which treats the photoelectron classically, the symmetry breaking is induced by the retroaction of the long range Coulomb potential onto the dissociating $H_2^+$.

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M. Waitz, D. Aslitürk, N. Wechselberger, H. K. Gill, J. Rist, F. Wiegandt, C. Goihl, G. Kastirke, M. Weller, T. Bauer, D. Metz, F. P. Sturm, J. Voigtsberger, S. Zeller, F. Trinter, G. Schiwietz, T. Weber, J. B. Williams, M. S. Schöffler, L. Ph. H. Schmidt, T. Jahnke, R. Dörner. 2016-01-22. Electron localization in dissociating $H_2^+$ by retroaction of a photoelectron onto its source. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.116.043001

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