Time-dependent configuration-interaction-singles calculation of the 5p5p-subshell two-photon ionization cross section in xenon

The $5p$ two-photon ionization cross section of xenon in the photon-energy range below the one-photon ionization threshold is calculated within the time-dependent configuration-interaction-singles (TDCIS) method. The TDCIS calculations are compared to random-phase-approximation (RPA) calculations [Wendin \textit{et al.}, J. Opt. Soc. Am. B \textbf{4}, 833 (1987)] and are found to reproduce the energy positions of the intermediate Rydberg states reasonably well. The effect of interchannel coupling is also investigated and found to change the cross section of the $5p$ shell only slightly compared to the intrachannel case.Comment: 11 pages, 3 figure

Strong-Field Many-Body Physics and the Giant Enhancement in the High-Harmonic Spectrum of Xenon

We resolve an open question about the origin of the giant enhancement in the high-harmonic generation (HHG) spectrum of atomic xenon around 100 eV. By solving the many-body time-dependent Schr\"odinger equation with all orbitals in the 4d, 5s, and 5p shells active, we demonstrate the enhancement results truly from collective many-body excitation induced by the returning photoelectron via two-body interchannel interactions. Without the many-body interactions, which promote a 4d electron into the 5p vacancy created by strong-field ionization, no collective excitation and no enhancement in the HHG spectrum exist.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure

Imaging instantaneous electron flow with ultrafast resonant x-ray scattering

We propose a novel way to image dynamical properties of nonstationary electron systems using ultrafast resonant x-ray scattering. Employing a rigorous theoretical analysis within the framework of quantum electrodynamics, we demonstrate that a single scattering pattern from a nonstationary electron system encodes the instantaneous interatomic electron current in addition to the structural information usually obtained by resonant x-ray scattering from stationary systems. Thus, inelastic contributions that are indistinguishable from elastic processes induced by a broadband probe pulse, instead of being a concern, serve as an advantage for time-resolved resonant x-ray scattering. Thereby, we propose an approach combining elastic and inelastic resonant x-ray scattering for imaging dynamics of nonstationary electron systems in both real space and real time. In order to illustrate its power, we show how it can be applied to image the electron hole current in an ionized diatomic molecule

Driving Rabi oscillations at the giant dipole resonance in xenon

Free-electron lasers (FELs) produce short and very intense light pulses in the XUV and x-ray regimes. We investigate the possibility to drive Rabi oscillations in xenon with an intense FEL pulse by using the unusually large dipole strength of the giant-dipole resonance (GDR). The GDR decays within less than 30 as due to its position, which is above the $4d$ ionization threshold. We find that intensities around 10$^{18}$ W/cm$^2$ are required to induce Rabi oscillations with a period comparable to the lifetime. The pulse duration should not exceed 100 as because xenon will be fully ionized within a few lifetimes. Rabi oscillations reveal themselves also in the photoelectron spectrum in form of Autler-Townes splittings extending over several tens of electronvolt.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figure

Wave-packet propagation based calculation of above-threshold ionization in the x-ray regime

We investigate the multi-photon process of above-threshold ionization for the light elements hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen and oxygen in the hard x-ray regime. Numerical challenges are discussed and by comparing Hartree-Fock-Slater calculations to configuration-interaction-singles results we justify the mean-field potential approach in this regime. We present a theoretical prediction of two-photon above-threshold-ionization cross sections for the mentioned elements. Moreover, we study how the importance of above-threshold ionization varies with intensity. We find that for carbon, at x-ray intensities around $10^{23}{\rm Wcm}^{-2}$, two-photon above-threshold ionization of the K-shell electrons is as probable as one-photon ionization of the L-shell electrons.Comment: 13 pages, 4 figures, 1 tabl