On the interpretation of time-resolved anisotropic diffraction patterns

In this paper, we review existing systematic treatments for the interpretation of anisotropic diffraction patterns from partially aligned symmetric top molecules. Such patterns arise in the context of time-resolved diffraction experiments. We calculate diffraction patterns for ground-state NaI excited with an ultraviolet laser. The results are interpreted with the help of a qualitative analytic model, and general recommendations on the analysis and interpretation of anisotropic diffraction patterns are given. S Online supplementary data available from stacks.iop.org/NJP/12/113022/ mmedia 1 Authors to whom any correspondence should be addressed. New Journal of Physics 12 (2010) 113022 1367-2630/10/113022+19$30.00 © IOP Publishing Ltd and Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft