Laser photodissociation of the isotopic hydrogen molecular ions. Comparison between experimental and ab initio computed fragment kinetic energy spectra

The dissociation of H+2, D+2 and HD+ by lasers in a cross-beam experiment is studied. The kinetic energy spectra of the fragments show the vibrational structure of the primary molecular ions. A ruby laser with light polarization parallel to the ion beam direction was used in most experiments; a preliminary study on D+2 with a tunable dye laser was also performed. The experimental spectra are compared with spectra from ab initio computation using theoretical photodissociation cross sections, Franck-Condon populations, and trajectory calculations by the Monte Carlo method. (Auth.)