Electron angular distribution in resonance-enhanced two-photon ionization of H2+ by ultrashort laser pulses

We present a theoretical study of the electron angular distribution produced in resonance enhanced two-photon ionization of the H2+ molecular ion using ultrashort laser pulses. The method consists in solving the time dependent Schroedinger equation and includes all electronic and vibrational degrees of freedom. Differential (in proton energy and electron emission solid angle) ionization probabilities have been evaluated for various photon energies, laser intensities, and pulse durations. We show that (1+1) resonance-enhanced multiphoton ionization (REMPI) leads to angular distributions significantly different from those produced in direct two-photon ionization. The REMPI process is observed even at photon energies not matching the energy difference between two electronic states in a perfect vertical transition. Interestingly, there is no trace of REMPI effects in the electron angular distribution when the fully differential probabilities are integrated over proton energy