We perform theoretical investigations of laser-induced nonsequential double
ionization with few cycle pulses, with particular emphasis on the dependence of
the electron-momentum distributions on the carrier-envelope phase. We focus on
the recollision-excitation with subsequent tunneling ionization (RESI) pathway,
in which a released electron, upon return to its parent ion, gives part of its
kinetic energy to promote a second electron to an excited state. At a
subsequent time, the second electron is freed through tunneling ionization. We
show that the RESI electron-momentum distributions vary dramatically with
regard to the carrier-envelope phase. By performing a detailed analysis of the
dynamics of the two active electrons in terms of quantum orbits, we relate the
shapes and the momentum regions populated by such distributions to the dominant
set of orbits along which rescattering of the first electron and ionization of
the second electron occurs. These orbits can be manipulated by varying the
carrier-envelope phase. This opens a wide range of possibilities for
controlling correlated attosecond electron emission by an adequate pulse
choice.Comment: 12 pages, 7 figures, 1 tabl
