Tracking and controlling dissociative ionization of formic acid molecules by femtosecond laser fields

We present an experimental investigation aimed at tracking and controlling the dissociative ionization of formic acid molecules using intense femtosecond laser pulses. The resulting ionic products, formyl and hydroxyl radicals, are measured in coincidence. By analyzing the kinetic energy release spectra of these ionic radicals as a function of the time delay between the pump and probe laser pulses, we identify two distinct formation pathways. Furthermore, we show the manipulation of the spatial emission characteristics of these ionic radicals by adjusting the relative phase of spatiotemporally shaped two-color femtosecond laser fields. These findings offer valuable insights into the fragmentation dynamics of formic acid molecules in femtosecond laser pulses.