6533b82bfe1ef96bd128d936

RESEARCH PRODUCT

Field-free molecular alignment for measuring ionization probability

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International audience; We have shown in a recent letter (Loriot et al 2006 Opt. Lett. 31 2897) the possibility of determining the ionization probability of linear molecules by using an all-optical technique that takes advantage of post-pulse molecular alignment. To that end, we have implemented a ‘cross-defocusing' technique producing a signal sensitive to both alignment and ionization. The analysis of the signal provides a quantitative measurement of the ionization probability calibrated with molecular alignment. In the present work, the method is discussed in more detail and applied to the measurement of the ionization probability of N2 as well as to the determination of the ionization ratio between (i) N2 and Ar and (ii) O2 and Xe. We demonstrate in addition a progress in the scheme in order to improve the accuracy at low intensity.