Line shape theory in atomic resonant multiphoton ionization

G. A. Delone, Nikolai B. Delone, G. K. Piskova

B. A. Zon

Lloyd Armstrong, Brian Lee Beers, S. Feneuille

We introduce an analogy between the theory of autoionizing states as described by Fano and the theory of certain states ("pseudo-autoionizing states") of an irradiated atom. These "pseudo-autoionizing states" are used to obtain a number of qualitative results concerning resonant multiphoton ionization probabilities for several experimental arrangements. This method makes clear the importance of nonresonant processes in determining resonant multiphoton ionization line shapes.

Willem van de Water, Suzanne Yoakum, Ton van Leeuwen +5 more

We study experimentally and theoretically the detailed field-amplitude dependence of the multiphoton ionization and excitation probability of highly excited ${\mathit{n}}_{0}$ $^{3}$S helium atoms in a 9.924-GHz linearly polarized microwave electric field. For ionization, with principal quantum numbers in the range ${\mathit{n}}_{0}$=25--32, we use a quasistatic analysis that employs integration of the time-dependent Schr\"odinger equation using basis states of the static field Hamiltonian. The calculated results are used to interpret the observed ionization threshold structure. For excitation, the results of ${\mathit{n}}_{0}$ $^{3}$S\ensuremath{\rightarrow}${\mathit{n}}_{0}$ $^{3}$L, L>2 excitation experiments are explained quantitatively and precisely using a theory of multiphoton resonances. We present maps of quasienergy levels that allow the study of the dynamics of the field-switching transients. These transient effects are analyzed along the lines of standard atomic collision theory and are shown to determine the shape of the observed resonances.

P. Lambropoulos, Xiaofeng Tang

Burke Ritchie

The author presents a theory for $N$-photon ionization in which two intermediate states can be in resonance with the ground state over a narrow range of photon frequencies. The theory is applied to the three-photon $6F$ resonance-state spin-orbit doublet in the four-photon ionization of Cs. The amplitude for the process is the sum of two components, each containing a complex line-shape function. In the limit of zero splitting, the previously studied isolated resonance result, in which the line shape is Lorentzian is recovered. For the splitting in Cs ($6F$), the absorption profile is studied as a function of the splitting parameters of the state, the $6S\ensuremath{\rightarrow}6F$ three-photon Rabi rate, and the field-induced shift and width for the $6S\ensuremath{\rightarrow}6F$ transition. This profile depends in a complicated way on the relative magnitudes of the shift and the spacing between the fine-structure levels.