Multielectron dissociative ionization of SF<F>6</F> in an intense femtosecond laser field

The multielectron dissociative ionization of sulphur hexafluoride was investigated using 130 fs laser pulses at 810 nm wavelength. The pattern of the observed mass spectrum is explained based on the molecular structure symmetry and atomic ionization potentials. The kinetic energies of the atomic ions F<F>+</F> and F<F>2+</F> are consistent with a Coulomb explosion at a single critical internuclear distance. High precision angular distributions of atomic ions are obtained and the geometric alignment is responsible to the observed anisotropic angle distribution of energetic atomic ions. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]