Selective ionization/dissociation of oriented N2O molecules by asymmetric fs laser field

We report on the selective ionization of oriented nitrous oxide (N2O) molecules in gas phase by the use of an intense asymmetric two-color ω/2ω 40 fs laser field. By means of a time-of-flight mass spectrometer the induced N2O mass spectra have been recorded as a function of the relative phase of the two-color laser fields. It is found that the applied method facilitates the distinction of different dissociation channels that result in fragments with the same mass and kinetic energy. Thus, the potential of the employed technique for phase control of the molecular excitation for the case of N2O is explored.