Electron-localization-resolved rotation of D2+ in a strong midinfrared laser pulse

Electrons have much shorter timescales of movement than nuclei, and thus electron dynamics is generally averaged out in the study of molecular rotation. However, our numerical study shows that the electron dynamical localization on different nuclei during the molecular dissociation may determine the molecular rotation directions. Taking $\mathrm{D}{{}_{2}}^{+}$ as the prototype, an isolated linearly polarized attosecond pulse initiates the molecular dissociation, and then a time-delayed linearly polarized middle-infrared pulse, with the polarization cross angle $\ensuremath{\pi}/4$ to the attosecond pulse, exerts opposite torques on the molecule when the electron localizes on different nuclei, resulting in the clockwise or counterclockwise rotation of the dissociating $\mathrm{D}{{}_{2}}^{+}$. The time-dependent analysis explores the complex behavior of molecular rotation determined by the ultrafast electron dynamics, and sheds light on quantum control of molecular rotation.