Quantum theory of high-order above-threshold ionization (HATI) of atoms, prepared in a coherent superposition of bound states, by a strong laser field is formulated. Numerical results are obtained using the solutions of the time-dependent Schr\"odinger equation and the improved strong-field approximation. As an example, coherent superposition of the excited $2s$ and $2p$ states of the He atom is used. Applying a two-level model, it is shown how the relative amplitude and phase of the states in this coherent superposition can be controlled with a weak resonant laser pulse. Numerical results presented for HATI by a strong nonresonant probe laser pulse confirm that the photoelectron spectra and the momentum distributions strongly depend on the relative phase of the states in the prepared coherent superposition. For the case of HATI by a strong resonant laser pulse, we modify our strong-field-approximation theory by applying the two-level model to describe the time evolution of the atomic bound state before the instant of ionization. Contrary to the HATI from a single state by a long laser pulse, the corresponding photoelectron spectra of HATI from the coherent superposition of states depend on the carrier-envelope phase of the resonant ionizing pulse. Therefore, the strong-field ionization from a coherent superposition of states by a resonant laser pulse can be used to determine the carrier-envelope phase for long pulses for which the standard methods such as stereo--above-threshold ionization technique fail. The results strongly depend on the relative amplitude and phase of states in the coherent superposition of states, which can be controlled with a weak resonant laser pulse.Quantum theory of high-order above-threshold ionization (HATI) of atoms, prepared in a coherent superposition of bound states, by a strong laser field is formulated. Numerical results are obtained using the solutions of the time-dependent Schr\"odinger equation and the improved strong-field approximation. As an example, coherent superposition of the excited $2s$ and $2p$ states of the He atom is used. Applying a two-level model, it is shown how the relative amplitude and phase of the states in this coherent superposition can be controlled with a weak resonant laser pulse. Numerical results presented for HATI by a strong nonresonant probe laser pulse confirm that the photoelectron spectra and the momentum distributions strongly depend on the relative phase of the states in the prepared coherent superposition. For the case of HATI by a strong resonant laser pulse, we modify our strong-field-approximation theory by applying the two-level model to describe the time evolution of the atomic bound state before the instant of ionization. Contrary to the HATI from a single state by a long laser pulse, the corresponding photoelectron spectra of HATI from the coherent superposition of states depend on the carrier-envelope phase of the resonant ionizing pulse. Therefore, the strong-field ionization from a coherent superposition of states by a resonant laser pulse can be used to determine the carrier-envelope phase for long pulses for which the standard methods such as stereo--above-threshold ionization technique fail. The results strongly depend on the relative amplitude and phase of states in the coherent superposition of states, which can be controlled with a weak resonant laser pulse.

Physical Review AJul 15, 20229 citations

ABOVE-THRESHOLD IONIZATION

WORLD SCIENTIFIC eBooksJan 1, 19982 citations

Above-threshold ionization in the x-ray regime

Hari R. Varma, Marcelo F. Ciappina, Nina Rohringer +1 more

Two-photon above-threshold ionization processes in the x-ray regime are studied using atomic hydrogen as a model system. Within the minimal-coupling formalism of nonrelativistic quantum electrodynamics, two distinct interactions---$\stackrel{\ifmmode \hat{}\else \^{}\fi{}}{\mathbf{A}}\ensuremath{\cdot}\stackrel{\ifmmode \hat{}\else \^{}\fi{}}{\mathbf{p}}$ in second order and ${\stackrel{\ifmmode \hat{}\else \^{}\fi{}}{\mathbf{A}}}^{2}$ in first order---contribute to the two-photon absorption amplitude. The relative importance of these two interactions is assessed. It is found that above a photon energy of 6.8 keV, the contribution from ${\stackrel{\ifmmode \hat{}\else \^{}\fi{}}{\mathbf{A}}}^{2}$ to the total two-photon absorption cross section dominates. In this high-energy regime, above-threshold ionization is a nonsequential purely nondipole process. Rate equations are employed to calculate the probabilities of ionization by Compton scattering, one-photon absorption, and two-photon absorption.Two-photon above-threshold ionization processes in the x-ray regime are studied using atomic hydrogen as a model system. Within the minimal-coupling formalism of nonrelativistic quantum electrodynamics, two distinct interactions---$\stackrel{\ifmmode \hat{}\else \^{}\fi{}}{\mathbf{A}}\ensuremath{\cdot}\stackrel{\ifmmode \hat{}\else \^{}\fi{}}{\mathbf{p}}$ in second order and ${\stackrel{\ifmmode \hat{}\else \^{}\fi{}}{\mathbf{A}}}^{2}$ in first order---contribute to the two-photon absorption amplitude. The relative importance of these two interactions is assessed. It is found that above a photon energy of 6.8 keV, the contribution from ${\stackrel{\ifmmode \hat{}\else \^{}\fi{}}{\mathbf{A}}}^{2}$ to the total two-photon absorption cross section dominates. In this high-energy regime, above-threshold ionization is a nonsequential purely nondipole process. Rate equations are employed to calculate the probabilities of ionization by Compton scattering, one-photon absorption, and two-photon absorption.

Physical Review ANov 30, 200931 citations

Near-threshold ionization

Institute of Physics eBooksNov 26, 20040 citations

Dependence of above-threshold ionization spectrum on polarization directions of two-color laser fields

Min Liu, Yingchun Guo, Bingbing Wang

Using the frequency-domain theory, we investigate the above-threshold ionization (ATI) process of an atom in two-color laser fields. When both photon energies of the two-color laser fields are much smaller than the atomic ionization threshold, the ATI spectrum depends on the angle between the two lasers' polarization directions. While when the photon energy of one laser is comparable with or larger than the atomic ionization threshold, the ATI spectrum is independent of the angle, and only several dips appear at certain angles. By analyzing the contributions of different quantum channels, we find that, for the case that both frequencies of the two color lasers are low, the quantum interferences between the channels are strong, and hence the spectrum changes with the angle between the two lasers' polarization directions. While for the case that the frequency of one of the two color lasers is high, the contributions of the channels to the ATI spectrum decrease dramatically with increasing channel order, hence the interferences between the channels disappear, and the ATI spectrum has a step-like structure, which is independent of the angle between the two lasers' polarizations. These results can shed light on the study of the corresponding relation between classical and quantum mechanisms of the matter–laser interaction in high-frequency laser fields.Using the frequency-domain theory, we investigate the above-threshold ionization (ATI) process of an atom in two-color laser fields. When both photon energies of the two-color laser fields are much smaller than the atomic ionization threshold, the ATI spectrum depends on the angle between the two lasers' polarization directions. While when the photon energy of one laser is comparable with or larger than the atomic ionization threshold, the ATI spectrum is independent of the angle, and only several dips appear at certain angles. By analyzing the contributions of different quantum channels, we find that, for the case that both frequencies of the two color lasers are low, the quantum interferences between the channels are strong, and hence the spectrum changes with the angle between the two lasers' polarization directions. While for the case that the frequency of one of the two color lasers is high, the contributions of the channels to the ATI spectrum decrease dramatically with increasing channel order, hence the interferences between the channels disappear, and the ATI spectrum has a step-like structure, which is independent of the angle between the two lasers' polarizations. These results can shed light on the study of the corresponding relation between classical and quantum mechanisms of the matter–laser interaction in high-frequency laser fields.

Chinese Physics BJun 25, 20159 citations

2s

and

2p

states of the He atom is used. Applying a two-level model, it is shown how the relative amplitude and phase of the states in this coherent superposition can be controlled with a weak resonant laser pulse. Numerical results presented for HATI by a strong nonresonant probe laser pulse confirm that the photoelectron spectra and the momentum distributions strongly depend on the relative phase of the states in the prepared coherent superposition. For the case of HATI by a strong resonant laser pulse, we modify our strong-field-approximation theory by applying the two-level model to describe the time evolution of the atomic bound state before the instant of ionization. Contrary to the HATI from a single state by a long laser pulse, the corresponding photoelectron spectra of HATI from the coherent superposition of states depend on the carrier-envelope phase of the resonant ionizing pulse. Therefore, the strong-field ionization from a coherent superposition of states by a resonant laser pulse can be used to determine the carrier-envelope phase for long pulses for which the standard methods such as stereo--above-threshold ionization technique fail. The results strongly depend on the relative amplitude and phase of states in the coherent superposition of states, which can be controlled with a weak resonant laser pulse.