Quantum beats and Kepler motion in fast competing photoionization and photodissociation processes
Abstract
Electronic and nuclear wavepackets created by coherent excitation of an autoionized and predissociated ‘complex ’ resonance in H2 are studied theoretically using time-dependent multichannel quantum defect theory. The calculations predict that quantum beats between the components of the complex resonance interfere with Rydberg wavepacket (Kepler) motion to yield characteristic ‘mixed’ flux patterns in the observable time-dependent ionization and dissociation signals.