Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

Physical Review Letters

Interference Effects in the Multiphoton Ionization of Sodium

R. R. Jones

Published Feb 13, 1995• 73 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Sodium atoms are ionized by 777 nm, 150 fs laser pulses. Modulations are observed in the multiphoton ionization yield as a function of laser intensity. The oscillations are attributed to Ramsey interference caused by coherent population transfer between bound states at two different times during a single laser pulse.
DOI
10.1103/physrevlett.74.1091

Related papers

Multiphoton Ionization Enhancement Using Two Phase-Coherent Laser Pulses

R. R. Jones

Modulations in the multiphoton ionization yield in Na are observed as a function of the relative delay between two identical 150 fsec laser pulses. The first pulse populates a coherent superposition state composed of ground and excited levels. The ionization yield during the second pulse depends on its phase relative to that of the nonstationary superposition state. Ionization enhancements of more than an order of magnitude can be achieved by exploiting coherences in the atom-laser system.

Physical Review Letters•Aug 21, 1995•64 citations

Studies on coherent effects in double-resonance multiphoton ionization of sodium with pulsed lasers

Yun Shao, Dimitrios Charalambidis, Costas Fotakis

An experimental study of doubly resonant multiphoton ionization of Na has been carried out. Coherence effects, such as AC - Stark splitting and population trapping, have been manifested in different coupling schemes, i.e. ladder, lambda, vee configurations. These effects have been investigated in terms of their dependence on the laser intensity and resonance detuning, as well as the state of the laser polarization. The experimental results are qualitatively interpreted in terms of a few level system.

Journal of Physics B Atomic Molecular and Optical Physics•Nov 28, 1996•2 citations

Coherent control of atomic photoionization

Stefano Cavalieri, R. Eramo, Luca Fini +1 more

Coherent control provides a quantum interference based method for controlling atomic and molecular dynamics. We report two experimental observations of different ways to achieve such a control in atomic photoionization continuum. One is the photoionization of sodium atoms, initially prepared in the 3P1/2 excited state, by a non resonant three-photon interaction with 1064-nm laser light and by a one-photon interaction with the third-harmonic field, at 355 nm. Interference between the two transition paths allows the control of the total ionization rate by varying the relative phase of the laser fields. The second experiment is the observation of the modification of the ionization continua of xenon through laser induced continuum structure (LICS). The multiphoton radiative decay of the xenon ground state into the two electronic continua, that correspond to the two fine structure levels of the ground state of the xenon ion, is varied by electromagnetically embedding a bound state of the atom into the two continua. Both experiments are performed on an atomic beam apparatus which uses a time-of-flight spectrometer for energy analyzing the emitted photoelectrons.

Proceedings of SPIE, the International Society for Optical Engineering/Proceedings of SPIE•Oct 21, 1998•0 citations

Dynamics of Short-Pulse Multiphoton Ionization

George N. Gibson, Richard R. Freeman, Thomas J. Mcilrath

We investigate the relative importance of resonant enhancement and real population transfer in short-pulse multiphoton ionization. Total ionization and excited state population after the laser pulse are calculated numerically by integrating the time dependent Schödinger for a two level atom in a short-pulse high-intensity laser field.

Shortwavelength: Physics with Intense Laser Pulses•Jan 1, 1993•0 citations

Saturation effects in multiphoton ionization

John A. Yeazell, Michelle S. Malcuit, Carlos R. Stroud +1 more

We have studied two-photon resonant three-photon ionization of atomic sodium vapor. A dye laser tuned to either the 4d or 5s two-photon allowed transition was used to excite the atom and a second more intense laser (λ = 7000 Å) was used for ionization. The ion yield was measured as a function of resonant laser intensity and detuning, the nonresonant laser intensity, and the temporal overlap of the exciting and ionizing laser pulses. We have found1 that at high laser intensities the photoionization yield decreases as the nonresonant laser intensity is increased. When tuned to the 5s level a value of ~−0.6 was obtained for the exponential index even with the resonant laser tuned to maximize the ion yield. A theoretical model including the effects of Stark shift of the ground state, power broadening of the intermediate level due to saturation of the two-photon transition and by rapid transitions to the ionization continuum was used to predict the experimental results. Good agreement between theory and experiment required the use of a photoionization cross section for the 5s level which was ~20 times greater than the accepted value. Results for photoionization from the 4d level are also presented.

Annual Meeting Optical Society of America•Jan 1, 1985•0 citations

ATOMS INTERACTING WITH ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS, MULTIPHOTON IONIZATION

G. Mainfray

The non linear interaction between an intense laser radiation and atoms leads to ionization through the absorption of N photons from the laser radiation via laser-induced virtual states. The multiphoton ionization rate varies as a function of the laser intensity I as IN. We discuss the two most important effects which govern multiphoton ionization processes : resonance effects and laser-coherence effects. In a moderate laser intensity range (107 - 109 W cm-2) corresponding to the two, three or four-photon ionization of atoms, resonance effects play a dominant role while the photon statistics of the laser radiation are relatively unimportant. On the contrary, in the very high intensity range (1012 - 1013 W cm-2) required to observe large Nth - order ionization processes, coherence effects play a dominant role through N! enhancement in the N-photon ionization rate, while resonance effects are completely damped due to the high laser intensity. We conclude by reviewing the possible applications of multiphoton absorption processes in other fields.

Le Journal de Physique Colloques•Nov 1, 1982•1 citation
An experimental study of doubly resonant multiphoton ionization of Na has been carried out. Coherence effects, such as AC - Stark splitting and population trapping, have been manifested in different coupling schemes, i.e. ladder, lambda, vee configurations. These effects have been investigated in terms of their dependence on the laser intensity and resonance detuning, as well as the state of the laser polarization. The experimental results are qualitatively interpreted in terms of a few level system.
Coherent control provides a quantum interference based method for controlling atomic and molecular dynamics. We report two experimental observations of different ways to achieve such a control in atomic photoionization continuum. One is the photoionization of sodium atoms, initially prepared in the 3P1/2 excited state, by a non resonant three-photon interaction with 1064-nm laser light and by a one-photon interaction with the third-harmonic field, at 355 nm. Interference between the two transition paths allows the control of the total ionization rate by varying the relative phase of the laser fields. The second experiment is the observation of the modification of the ionization continua of xenon through laser induced continuum structure (LICS). The multiphoton radiative decay of the xenon ground state into the two electronic continua, that correspond to the two fine structure levels of the ground state of the xenon ion, is varied by electromagnetically embedding a bound state of the atom into the two continua. Both experiments are performed on an atomic beam apparatus which uses a time-of-flight spectrometer for energy analyzing the emitted photoelectrons.
We have studied two-photon resonant three-photon ionization of atomic sodium vapor. A dye laser tuned to either the 4d or 5s two-photon allowed transition was used to excite the atom and a second more intense laser (λ = 7000 Å) was used for ionization. The ion yield was measured as a function of resonant laser intensity and detuning, the nonresonant laser intensity, and the temporal overlap of the exciting and ionizing laser pulses. We have found1 that at high laser intensities the photoionization yield decreases as the nonresonant laser intensity is increased. When tuned to the 5s level a value of ~−0.6 was obtained for the exponential index even with the resonant laser tuned to maximize the ion yield. A theoretical model including the effects of Stark shift of the ground state, power broadening of the intermediate level due to saturation of the two-photon transition and by rapid transitions to the ionization continuum was used to predict the experimental results. Good agreement between theory and experiment required the use of a photoionization cross section for the 5s level which was ~20 times greater than the accepted value. Results for photoionization from the 4d level are also presented.
The non linear interaction between an intense laser radiation and atoms leads to ionization through the absorption of N photons from the laser radiation via laser-induced virtual states. The multiphoton ionization rate varies as a function of the laser intensity I as IN. We discuss the two most important effects which govern multiphoton ionization processes : resonance effects and laser-coherence effects. In a moderate laser intensity range (107 - 109 W cm-2) corresponding to the two, three or four-photon ionization of atoms, resonance effects play a dominant role while the photon statistics of the laser radiation are relatively unimportant. On the contrary, in the very high intensity range (1012 - 1013 W cm-2) required to observe large Nth - order ionization processes, coherence effects play a dominant role through N! enhancement in the N-photon ionization rate, while resonance effects are completely damped due to the high laser intensity. We conclude by reviewing the possible applications of multiphoton absorption processes in other fields.