Laser-induced Coulomb explosion of 1,4-diiodobenzene molecules: Studies of isolated molecules and molecules in helium nanodroplets

Coulomb explosion of 1,4-diiodobenzene molecules, isolated or embedded in helium nanodroplets, is induced by irradiation with an intense femtosecond laser pulse. The recoiling ion fragments are probed by time-of-flight measurements and two-dimensional velocity map imaging. Correlation analysis of the emission directions of I+ ions recoiling from each end of the molecules reveals significant deviation from axial recoil, i.e., where the I+ ions leave strictly along the I-I symmetry axis. For isolated molecules, the relative angular distribution of the I+ ions is centered at 180 degrees, corresponding to perfect axial recoil, but with a full width at half maximum of 30.. For molecules inside He droplets, the width of the distribution increases to 45 degrees. These results provide a direct measure of the accuracy of Coulomb explosion as a probe of the spatial orientation of molecules, which is particularly relevant in connection with laser-induced molecular alignment and orientation. In addition, our studies show how it is possible to identify fragmentation pathways of the Coulomb explosion for the isolated 1,4-diiodobenzene molecules. Finally, for the 1,4-diiodobenzene molecules in He droplets, it is shown that the angular correlation between fragments from the Coulomb explosion is preserved after they have interacted with the He environment.