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Abstract

In this diploma thesis the interaction of intense laser pulses with carbon dioxide, water and methanol molecules was investigated to gain insight into the underlying physical processes. This was achieved with the aid of a pump-probe setup for intense femtosecond pulses, and a reaction microscope. The laser provided 6-7 fs long pulses with a central wavelenght of about 800nm and an intensity in the order of magnitude of 1014 W/cm2, which were used for excitation. The reactions were probed with a second pulse which had a variable time delay of up to 3 ps. The reaction microscope, which allows kinematically complete studies, was extended with a liquid chamber, allowing the creation of gas jets from the liquid phase. The infl uence of molecular alignment on different fragmentation channels of carbon dioxide could be studied. In addition coherently excited vibrational levels in the CO+2 ion were detected, which are in agreement with theoretical predictions. The creation of O+2 , H+2 and H+3 fragments was observed with all three targets in accordance with previous experimental findings.