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Journal of Physics B Atomic and Molecular Physics

Polarization phenomena in multiphoton ionization of atoms

V. L. Jacobs

Published Aug 1, 1973• 28 citations
Publisher

Abstract

The theory of multiphoton ionization for an atomic system of arbitrary complexity is developed using a density matrix formalism. An expression is obtained which determines the differential N-photon ionization cross section as a function of the polarization states of the target atom and the incident radiation. The parameters which characterize the photo-electron angular distribution are related to the general reduced matrix elements for the N-photon transition. Two-photon ionization of unpolarized atoms is treated as an illustration of the use of the theory. The dependence of the multiphoton ionization cross section on the polarization state of the incident radiation, which has been observed in two- and three-photon ionization of Cs, is accounted for by the theory. Finally, the photoelectron spin polarization produced by the multiphoton ionization of unpolarized atoms, like the analogous polarization resulting from single-photon ionization, is found to depend on the circular polarization of the incident radiation.

DOI
10.1088/0022-3700/6/8/024

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The theory of multiphoton ionization for an atomic system of arbitrary complexity is developed using a density matrix formalism. An expression is obtained which determines the differential N-photon ionization cross section as a function of the polarization states of the target atom and the incident radiation. The parameters which characterize the photo-electron angular distribution are related to the general reduced matrix elements for the N-photon transition. Two-photon ionization of unpolarized atoms is treated as an illustration of the use of the theory. The dependence of the multiphoton ionization cross section on the polarization state of the incident radiation, which has been observed in two- and three-photon ionization of Cs, is accounted for by the theory. Finally, the photoelectron spin polarization produced by the multiphoton ionization of unpolarized atoms, like the analogous polarization resulting from single-photon ionization, is found to depend on the circular polarization of the incident radiation.
General expressions are derived and investigated for the degree of polarization of electrons as a result of resonant two-photon ionization of unpolarized atoms having the S state as the ground state. The exciting and ionizing electromagnetic fields have arbitrary degrees of polarization and directions of propagation. It is shown that in cases where the matrix elements of P → S transitions from the resonant state to the continuum predominante over the matrix elements of P → D transitions, completely polarized photoelectrons may be obtained. These cases are found for sodium and potassium atoms.
This paper illustrates the study on asymmetry of the angular distribution of the ejected electrons in a multiphoton process from the ground state of a hydrogen atom. General expressions for the multiphoton ionization rates have been derived based on a variation of the Dalgarno–Lewis method for the evaluation of matrix elements in higher order perturbation theory. In addition, these analytical expressions for the various multiphoton transition rates and their variation as a function of polarization, phase, frequency and intensity of the incident radiation have been studied extensively. The general expression obtained can be used to analyse any number of incident beams with arbitrary polarization, phase and intensity.
An experimental and theoretical study is performed of the angular photoelectron distribution for three-photon ionization of Ba atoms through the 2ω-excited intermediate state 6p2(1S0) and the auto-ionized state 6p8s(3P1). Rotation of the polarization plane of dye-laser radiation allowed us to investigate the photoelectron angular distribution. Electrons were counted with the help of a time-of-flight electron spectrometer. Employing the density-matrix formalism, expressions have been obtained for angular dependence of the differential ionization probability. Possible experiments are discussed.
An experimental and theoretically study is performed of the angular photoelectron distribution for three-photon ionization of Ba atoms through the 2(omega) -excited intermediate state 6p2 (1So) and the auto- ionized state 6p8s(3P1). Rotation of the polarization plane of dye-laser radiation allowed us to investigate the photoelectron angular distribution. Electrons were counted with the help of a time-of-flight electron spectrometer. Employing the density-matrix formalism, expressions have been obtained for angular dependence of the differential ionizations probability. Possible experiments are discussed.