Qualitatively Different Theoretical Predictions for Strong-Field Photoionization Rates

We give examples showing that two well-known versions of the S-matrix theory, which describes a nonresonant multiphoton ionization of atoms and ions in intense laser fields, lead to qualitatively different results. The latter refer not only to total ionization rates, but also to energy distributions of photoelectrons, for instance in a polarization plane of the laser field. It should be possible to make an experiment testing predictions of both theories in the near future.Comment: 12 pages, 5 figures; submitted to Physical Revie

Coulomb focusing at above-threshold ionization in elliptically polarized mid-infrared strong laser fields

The role of Coulomb focusing in above-threshold ionization in an elliptically polarized mid-infrared strong laser field is investigated within a semiclassical model incorporating tunneling and Coulomb field effects. It is shown that Coulomb focusing up to moderate ellipticity values is dominated by multiple forward scattering of the ionized electron by the atomic core that creates a characteristic low-energy structure in the photoelectron spectrum and is responsible for the peculiar energy scaling of the ionization normalized yield along the major polarization axis. At higher ellipticities, the electron continuum dynamics is disturbed by the Coulomb field effect mostly at the exit of the ionization tunnel. Due to the latter, the normalized yield is found to be enhanced, with the enhancement factor being sharply pronounced at intermediate ellipticities

Production of high energy particles in laser and Coulomb fields and e^+e^- antenna

A strong laser field and the Coulomb field of a nucleus can produce e^{+}e^{-} pairs. It is shown for the first time that there is a large probability that electrons and positrons created in this process collide after one or several oscillations of the laser field. These collisions can take place at high energy resulting in several phenomena. The quasielastic collision e^{+}e^{-} -> e^{+}e^{-} allows acceleration of leptons in the laser field to higher energies. The inelastic collisions allow production of high energy photons e^{+}e^{-}-> 2 gamma and muons, e^{+}e^{-} -> mu^{+}mu^{-}. The yield of high-energy photons and muons produced via this mechanism exceeds exponentially their production through conventional direct creation in laser and Coulomb fields. A relation of the phenomena considered with the antenna-mechanism of multiphoton absorption in atoms is discussed.Comment: 4 page

Strong-field approximation for intense-laser atom processes: the choice of gauge

The strong-field approximation can be and has been applied in both length gauge and velocity gauge with quantitatively conflicting answers. For ionization of negative ions with a ground state of odd parity, the predictions of the two gauges differ qualitatively: in the envelope of the angular-resolved energy spectrum, dips in one gauge correspond to humps in the other. We show that the length-gauge SFA matches the exact numerical solution of the time-dependent Schr\"odinger equation.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures, revtex

Classical Effects of Laser Pulse Duration on Strong-field Double Ionization

We use classical electron ensembles and the aligned-electron approximation to examine the effect of laser pulse duration on the dynamics of strong-field double ionization. We cover the range of intensities $10^{14}-10^{16} W/cm^2$ for the laser wavelength 780 nm. The classical scenario suggests that the highest rate of recollision occurs early in the pulse and promotes double ionization production in few-cycle pulses. In addition, the purely classical ensemble calculation predicts an exponentially decreasing recollision rate with each subsequent half cycle. We confirm the exponential behavior by trajectory back-analysis

Origin of Unexpected Low Energy Structure in Photoelectron Spectra Induced by Mid-Infrared Strong Laser Fields

Using a semiclassical model which incorporates tunneling and Coulomb field effects, the origin of the unexpected low-energy structure (LES) in above-threshold ionization spectrum observed in recent experiments [C. I. Blaga et al., Nature Phys. {\bf 5}, 335 (2009) and W. Quanet al., Phys. Rev. Lett. {\bf 103}, 093001 (2009)] is identified. We show that the LES arises due to an interplay between multiple forward scattering of an ionized electron and the electron momentum disturbance by the Coulomb field immediately after the ionization. The multiple forward scattering is mainly responsible for the appearance of LES, while the initial disturbance mainly determines the position of the LES peaks. The scaling laws for the LES parameters, such as the contrast ratio and the maximal energy, versus the laser intensity and wavelength are deduced

Lorentz force on an electron in a strong plane-wave laser field and the low-frequency limit for ionization

A motion of a classical free charge in an electromagnetic plane wave can be found exactly in a fully relativistic case. We have found an approximate non-parameter form of the suitable equations of motion. In a linearly polarized wave, in the simplest frame of reference, the charge moves along the well-known "figure-8" path. We have numerically calculated the Lorentz force acting on the charge as a function of time. In virtue of this, for the low frequency ionization (or detachment) rate, we discuss a manifestation of nondipole and relativistic effects.Comment: 14 pages, 7 figures; submitted to Physical Review

Instantaneous Multiphoton Ionization Rate and Initial Distribution of Electron Momenta

The Yudin-Ivanov formula [Phys. Rev. A 64, 013409 (2001)] is generalized such that the most general analytical expression for single-electron spectra, which includes the dependence on the instantaneous laser phase, is obtained within the strong field approximation. No assumptions on the momentum of the electron are made. Previously known formulas for single-electron spectra can be obtained as approximations to the general formula.Comment: 9 pages, 3 figure

Influence of molecular symmetry on strong-field ionization: Studies on ethylene, benzene, fluorobenzene, and chlorofluorobenzene

Using the molecular strong-field approximation we consider the effects of molecular symmetry on the ionization of molecules by a strong, linearly polarized laser pulse. Electron angular distributions and total ionization yields are calculated as a function of the relative orientation between the molecule and the laser polarization. Our studies focus on ethylene (C$_2$H$_4$), benzene (C$_6$H$_6$), fluorobenzene (C$_6$H$_5$F), and ortho chlorofluorobenzene (1,2 C$_6$H$_4$ClF), the molecules representing four different point groups. The results are compared with experiments, when available, and with the molecular tunneling theory appropriately extended to non-linear polyatomic molecules. Our investigations show that the orientational dependence of ionization yields is primarily determined by the nodal surface structure of the molecular orbitals.Comment: 13 pages, 10 figures. Submitted to Physical Review

Wavelength and intensity dependence of multiple forward scattering at above-threshold ionization in mid-infrared strong laser fields

The nonperturbative role of multiple forward scattering for Coulomb focusing in mid-infrared laser fields and its dependence on a laser intensity and wavelength are investigated for low-energy photoelectrons at above-threshold ionization. We show that high-order rescattering events can have comparable contributions to the Coulomb focusing and the effective number of rescattering depends weakly on laser parameters in the classical regime. However, the relative contribution of the forward scattering to the Coulomb focusing and the Coulomb focusing in total decrease with the rise of the laser intensity and wavelength