Probing Molecular Dynamics at Attosecond Resolution with Femtosecond Laser Pulses

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The kinetic energy distribution of D+ ions resulting from the interaction of a femtosecond laser pulse with D₂ molecules is calculated based on the rescattering model. From analyzing the molecular dynamics, it is shown that the recollision time between the ionized electron and the D₂+ ion can be read from the D+ kinetic energy peaks to attosecond accuracy. We further suggest that more precise reading of the clock can be achieved by using shorter fs laser pulses (about 15fs).