Daniel Strasser Lab

Research

We use intense femtosecond laser pulses to excite and probe ultrafast molecular dynamics. By combining ultrafast laser techniques with advanced fast beam imaging techniques we develop time resolved photo-fragment imaging that allows detection of molecular dissociation events on the relevant ultrafast time scales. Of specific interest are dissociation dynamics of superexcited states that exhibit extremely non-Born-Oppenheimer competition between autoionization and fragmentation decay pathways, multiple fragmentation mechanisms and evolution of molecular dynamics with increasing system complexity.

New: "Intense interactions with anions"

Shortcut to group's Thesis papers

Currently Funded Projects:

- Laser photofragmentation of small clusters

- Extreme Dynamics

- Time resolved molecular reaction dynamics with fast beam techniques

- Ultrafast EUV probe project (HHG based single photon CEI)

- Intense interactions with anions

The target of the research is to unravel the underlying mechanisms of intense-field interactions with atomic and molecular anions. A main thrust is aimed at understanding the electron double- and multi-detachment processes in different anionic systems. Systems differing in size, polarity, energetics and reactivity will help determine the role of different mechanisms. Furthermore, because of the low binding energy of the additional electron, dissociation channels may compete with electron-detachment on the ultrafast time-scale, the dynamics of which are investigated as well. 3D coincidence imaging is implemented to disentangle specific channels, that are examined through control of laser pulse intensity, shape and polarization. Dissociation of the double-detachment product is studied in terms of the associated kinetic energy release, and the anisotropy relative to the laser polarization axis. Pump-probe measurements contribute time-dependent information to complete the intense-field mechanism picture.