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Updated: May 20, 2026

Measurement of Ultrafast Vibrational Coherences in Polyatomic Radical Cations with Strong-Field Adiabatic Ionization
Published on: August 6, 2018
Resolving vibrational wave-packet dynamics of D2(+) using multicolor probe pulses.
Yusuke Furukawa1, Yasuo Nabekawa, Tomoya Okino
1Laser Technology Laboratory, RIKEN ASI, 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako-shi, Saitama 351-0198, Japan.
Researchers generated and observed the vibrational wave packet of deuterium molecules (D2+) using advanced ultrafast laser technology. This technique offers a new tool for studying molecular dynamics on ultrashort timescales.
Area of Science:
- Ultrafast spectroscopy
- Molecular dynamics
- Quantum chemistry
Background:
- Understanding molecular vibrations is crucial for chemistry and materials science.
- Observing ultrafast molecular dynamics requires advanced experimental techniques.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate the generation and real-time observation of the vibrational wave packet of deuterium molecules (D2+).
- To establish a multicolor pump-probe scheme as a tool for studying wave packet evolution.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a sub-10-femtosecond extreme ultraviolet (XUV) high-harmonic generation (HHG) pump pulse.
- Employed a three-color probe laser pulse spanning near-infrared (NIR) to vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) wavelengths.
- Implemented a multicolor pump-probe spectroscopy technique.
Main Results:
- Successfully generated and observed the vibrational wave packet of D2+ in real-time.
- Demonstrated the capability of the multicolor pump-probe scheme to track wave packet dynamics.
- Achieved time resolution on the order of approximately 20 femtoseconds.
Conclusions:
- The developed multicolor pump-probe scheme is a powerful experimental tool.
- This method enables the investigation of wave packets evolving on ultrashort timescales (~20 fs).
- Provides new insights into fundamental molecular processes.
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