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Video abstract for the article 'Frustrated tunnelling ionization during strong-field fragmentation of D3+' by J McKenna, A M Sayler, B Gaire, Nora G Kling, B D Esry, K D Carnes and I Ben-Itzhak (J McKenna et al 2012 New J. Phys. 14 103029). Read the full article in New Journal of Physics at http://iopscience.iop.org/1367-2630/14/10/103029/article. GENERAL SCIENTIFIC SUMMARY Introduction and background. Laser-driven electron recollision phenomena have fascinated strong-field physicists over the past two decades and have led to the emergence of new research fields including attosecond science. The recent discovery of frustrated tunnelling ionization (FTI), a new phenomenon linked to electron recollision, exemplifies that there is still much to be explored and understood about ultrafast intense laser--matter interactions. The mechanism of FTI refers to the capture of an electron wavepacket, following strong-field tunnelling, to a Rydberg state of the parent system—in essence 'frustrating' the ionization process. Main results. Having already been demonstrated to occur for neutral atoms and diatomic molecules, we present the first evidence for FTI in a polyatomic molecule. Our study is unique not only for this reason, but also because we use a molecular-ion beam target. Using a crossed-beams coincidence 3D momentum imaging setup, we report clear signatures of FTI in various fragmentation channels of D3+ subjected to intense 40 fs and 7 fs infrared laser pulses. We support the systematic experimental measurements with a classical simulation illustrating how FTI proceeds during D3+ breakup. Wider implications. This work on the benchmark D3+ molecule cements the current understanding of FTI and sheds new light on it for different systems. While the full potential of FTI is still to be exploited, we expect that in time exciting broad applications will emerge, such as using it as a means to accelerate neutral atoms, as recently reported.