We discuss the strong-field dynamics of HeH + , the simplest stable heteronuclear molecule, focusing on identifying a laser regime for which there is a sufficient dissociation signal for experimental measurement. We numerically solve the time-dependent Schrödinger equation to obtain total dissociation probabilities, kineticenergy release spectra, and momentum distributions for wavelengths from 800 to 2400 nm. The suitability of this simple system as a prototype for understanding the strong-field nuclear dynamics of heteronuclear dissociation is discussed.

We study the response of HeH + to an intense, few-cycle laser pulse. Specifically, we present the carrier-envelope phase dependence of the kinetic energy release spectrum, the spatial asymmetry, and the total dissociation probability in two-cycle pulses with an intensity of 10 14 W/cm 2 and wavelengths of 3200 nm and 4000 nm. Strong spatial asymmetries are found in spite of the fact that the electron always becomes localized as He+H + , demonstrating that control of such asymmetries can be obtained via control of the nuclear degrees of freedom-as opposed to its usual interpretation as control over the electronic degrees of freedom. We explain these CEP effects in terms of our photon-phase representation.

Synopsis Dissociation of a D 2 + (HD +) molecular ion beam is controlled by the time delay of a two-color field.