Competing parallel and perpendicular dissociation pathways of CS$^{2+}$ in a strong laser field\textsuperscript{*}

We investigate the competition between parallel and perpendicular transitions in the strong-field dissociation of CS$^{2+}$. The dominant dissociation pathway is understood to be a one-photon perpendicular transition from the X$^3\Pi$ to the A$^3\Sigma^-$ state. We hypothesize that the parallel component is due to a vibrational excitation to the continuum of the X$^3\Pi$ electronic state, driven by a permanent-dipole transition. The dependence of this parallel transition's probability on the molecule's kinetic energy release as well as on the laser's pulse duration, intensity, and wavelength is explored. \\[4pt] \textsuperscript{*}Supported by the Chemical Sciences, Geosciences, and Biosciences Division, Office of Basic Energy Sciences, Office of Science, U.S. Department of Energy. MH was partially supported by NSF-REU under Grant No. Phy-1157044. BJ is supported by DOE-SCGF under Grant No. DE-AC05-06OR23100. DW is supported by NSF-GRF under Grant No. DGE-1247193. TU is supported by GACR and MetaCentrum.