Deformation of an inner valence molecular orbital in ethanol by an intense laser field

• DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aaw1885
• Publication Date: 2019-05-17T23:17:22Z
• Authors: Hiroshi Akagi; Tomohito Otobe; Ryuji Itakura
• Keywords: Chemical Physics (physics.chem-ph); Physics - Chemical Physics; 0103 physical sciences; FOS: Physical sciences; Physics - Atomic and Molecular Clusters; Atomic and Molecular Clusters (physics.atm-clus); 01 natural sciences; 7. Clean energy; Research Articles

Valence molecular orbitals play a crucial role in chemical reactions. Here, we reveal that an intense laser field deforms inner valence orbital (10a') the ethanol molecule. We measure recoil-frame photoelectron angular distribution (RFPAD), which corresponds to orientation dependence of ionization probability orbital, using photoelectron-photoion coincidence momentum imaging with circularly polarized pulse. Ab initio simulations show deformation depends strongly on direction and measured RFPAD cannot be reproduced without taking into account. Our findings suggest laser-induced occurs before electron emission suboptical cycle time scale.