The ionization probability of N2, O2, and CO2 in intense laser fields is studied theoretically as a function of the alignment angle by solving the time-dependent Schrödinger equation numerically assuming only the single-active-electron approximation. The results are compared to recent experimental data [ D. Pavičić et al. Phys. Rev. Lett. 98 243001 (2007)] and good agreement is found for N2 and O2. For CO2 a possible explanation is provided for the failure of simplified single-active-electron models to reproduce the experimentally observed narrow ionization distribution. It is based on a field-induced coherent core-trapping effect.
