Coherent phase control of the photoionization of H2S

Coherent phase control was demonstrated for a bound-to-continuum transition of a polyatomic molecule. Three UV photons of frequency ω1 and one vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) photon of frequency ω3=3ω1 simultaneously excited H2S above its ionization threshold. The parent ion, H2S+, and fragment ions, HS+ and S+, produced by absorption of additional photons, were observed. All three ion signals were modulated as the phase difference between the light fields was varied.