Wavelength dependence of electron localization in the laser-driven dissociation of H2+

We theoretically investigate the laser wavelength dependence of asymmetric dissociation of H-2(+). It is found that the electron localization in molecular dissociation is significantly manipulated by varying the wavelength of the driving field. Through creating a strong nuclear vibration in the laser-molecular interaction, our simulations demonstrate that the few-cycle mid-infrared pulse can effectively localize the electron at one of the dissociating nuclei with weak ionization. Moreover, we show that the observed phase-shift of the dissociation asymmetry is attributed to the different population transfers by the remaining fields after the internuclear distances reach the one-photon coupling point. (C) 2011 Optical Society of America