Direct observation of laser-induced O2+ production from CO2

On the Earth, oxygen molecules are generated mostly via the photosynthesis by green plants and algae from carbon dioxide and water: nCO 2 + nH 2 O light→ (CH 2 O)n + nO 2 [1]. Although, theoretical studies showed the possibility of O 2 production via CO 2 fragmentation [2] and experimental investigations achieved the detection of C+ (referring the creation of O 2 on the other side) [3], the direct observation of O2 formation did not yet happen to our knowledge. In this submission, we report the direct experimental observation of molecular oxygen formation from carbon dioxide molecule after being doubly ionized by a strong laser pulse.