Fig. 3

Populations and phase differences in the rotational wavepacket at alignment and antialignment times. a Rotational-state populations and b phase differences to the phase of the state with largest population, J = 2, J = 6, respectively, at the alignment revival following a single-pulse excitation, 2.78 ps (blue dots), and the two-pulse excitation, 120.78 ps (red dots) as well as for the antialignment at 79.58 ps (black dots, populations coincide with the red dots). Only states with even angular momentum are populated due to the Raman-transition selection rules ΔJ = ±2