Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 21, 2026

Direct Imaging of Laser-driven Ultrafast Molecular Rotation
Published on: February 4, 2017
Two-source double-slit interference in angle-resolved high-energy above-threshold ionization spectra of diatoms
M Okunishi1, R Itaya, K Shimada
1Institute of Multidisciplinary Research for Advanced Materials, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8577, Japan.
Abstract:
When an electron from a diatomic molecule undergoes tunneling-rescattering ionization, a novel form of destructive interference can be realized that involves all four geometric orbits that are available to the electron when it is freed, because both ionization and rescattering may take place at the same or at different centers. We find experimentally and confirm theoretically that in orientation-averaged angle-resolved high-order above-threshold ionization spectra the corresponding destructive interference is visible for O_{2} but not for N_{2}. This effect is different from the suppression of ionization that is well known to occur for O_{2}.
Related Concept Videos
Interference and Diffraction
Mass Spectrum: Interpretation
Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy: Interference
Spectral interference occurs when signals from other elements or molecules overlap with the analyte signal, falsely elevating or masking the analyte's absorbance. This interference can be corrected using Zeeman,...
Atomic Emission Spectroscopy: Interference
Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS): Interferences
Chemical Ionization (CI) Mass Spectrometry

