XUV ionization of the H₂ molecule studied with attosecond angular streaking

Abstract

We study orientation and two-center interference effects in attosecond time-resolved photoionization of the H2molecule. Time resolution of XUV ionization of H2 is gained through the phase retrieval capability of attosecond angular streaking demonstrated earlier by Kheifets et al [[Phys. Rev. A 106, 033106 (2022)]. Once applied to H2 , this technique delivers an anisotropic phase and time delay which both depend sensitively on the molecular axis orientation. In addition, the photoelectron momentum distribution displays a very clear two-center interference pattern. When the interference formula of Walter and Briggs [J. Phys. B 32 2487 (1999)] is applied, an effective photoelectron momentum appears to be greater than the asymptotic momentum at the detector. This effect is explained by a molecular potential well surrounding the photoemission center.