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Journal of Physics B Atomic Molecular and Optical Physics

Two-colour intensity suppression of multiphoton ionization of atomic deuterium

Paul David Bowe, R W O'Neill, Peter J. M. van der Burgt, J. A. Slevin, Andrzej Raczyński, Jarosław Zaremba, Stanisław Chwirot

Published Mar 14, 1998• 4 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We report a strong suppression of the three-photon ionization resonant with the 2s state of atomic deuterium at 243 nm by the introduction of a second colour (486 nm) coupling the 2s and 4p states. This coupling reduces the ionization probability by several orders of magnitude. The experiment is performed using fundamental and second harmonic frequencies of the same laser, with laser intensities up to a maximum value of and an atomic target density of the order of . The production of both ions and D(2s) atoms is measured as a function of the intensity of the fundamental beam (486 nm). The experimental data are compared with a theoretical calculation using essential states and taking into account the experimental laser bandwidths.

DOI
10.1088/0953-4075/31/5/009

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We derive a set of density matrix equations describing laser photo-excitation and ionization of atomic hydrogen in the presence of an external electric field. The equations are relevant as a description of multiphoton ionization of hydrogen (or deuterium) atoms in laser-produced transient plasmas. The laser wavelength is 243 nm, so that the photoionization is resonant with the 2 s 1/2 level. The electric field causes Stark mixing of the 2 s 1/2 level with the 2 p 1/2 and 2 p 3/2 levels. Because the electric field is taken in the same direction as the linear polarization of the laser, only states with equal m j are coupled, and the atom can be described with a four-level density matrix. The laser bandwidth is taken into account by using the stochastic model of a chaotic laser field introduced by Zoller [1]. We present a few calculations of the probabilities for ionization and excitation of a single hydrogen atom as a function of laser intensity and wavelength.