Large-amplitude nuclear motions in the laser-induced Coulomb explosion of carbon dioxide molecules

Intense femtosecond laser pulses are used to study the Coulomb explosion of CO₂ molecules via O^Z^''+C^Z^'+OZ+ fragmentation channels. Large-amplitude bending and stretching motions around an average linear elongated structure are observed using atomic ion momenta correlations' peak shapes in comparison with Coulomb explosion calculations. Of special interest are the enhanced multielectronic ionization at large internuclear separations as predicted by recent theoretical models developed for diatomic molecules and the strong structural transition between the unperturbed geometry of the molecule and the exploding configuration in the intense laser field.