Strong laser-pulse-driven ionization and Coulomb explosion of hydrocarbon molecules

Field ionization and Coulomb explosion of small hydrocarbon molecules driven by intense laser pulses are studied in a combined theoretical and experimental framework. The spectra of ejected protons calculated by the time-dependent density functional approach are in good agreement with the experimental data. The results of the simulations give detailed insight into the correlated electron and nuclear dynamics and complement the experiment with a time-dependent physical picture. It is demonstrated that the Coulomb explosion in the studied molecular systems is a sudden, all-at-once fragmentation where the ionization step is followed by a simultaneous ejection of the charged fragments.