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Applications of High Field and Short Wavelength Sources (HFSW)

Backward and multi-echo field ionization by intense non-envelope "superpulses"

P. L. Shkolnikov, A. E. Kaplan

Published Jan 1, 1997• 0 citations

Abstract

Recently, we have proposed two avenues to generating ultrashort (potentially, subfemtosecond) and intense (up to atomic fields) nonoscillating pulses: a high-repetition train of such pulses can be produced in multicomponent stimulated Raman scattering [1], and a single pulse ("electromagnetic bubble" -- EMB) or several of them can result [2,3] from the propagation of an initially broad unipolar pulse (half-cycle pulse -- HCP [4]) in an appropriate nonlinear medium. Such pulses could cause a substantial "shake-up" excitation or ionization of an atomic system within the time much smaller than any characteristic time of the system. These "superpulses" would open a new chapter in nonlinear optics and atomic and molecular physics, both as a new probing tool and a source of new effects. In the present paper, we consider one of them: backward and multi-echo field ionization [5].

DOI: 10.1364/hfsw.1997.the29

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Recent advances in the ultrashort laser technology have spawned a series of new directions of research in atomic and molecular physics. This work compounds two studies on the control and probing of atomic matter by ultrafast laser pulses. The first study is concerned with the control of quantum wavepackets focusing by chirped, ultrashort laser pulses. The ability to control wavepacket focusing is important for the achievement of specific excitation pathways, for controlling chemical reactivity or even molecular synthesis. In this work, we present a general method for wavepacket control in the weak field limit. Numerical simulations involving the ICN molecule confirm our theoretical framework. The second study refers to the ionization of sodium Rydberg states via half-cycle pulses (HCPs). For this process, our full quantum-mechanical calculations demonstrate an asymmetry in both ionization rates and ionization spectrum between the downhill (Stark red-shifted) and uphill (Stark blue- shifted) states. The asymmetry is explained by appealing to a semi-classical model of the interfering ionization pathways.

•May 21, 2010•0 citations

Recently, we have proposed two avenues to generating ultrashort (potentially, subfemtosecond) and intense (up to atomic fields) nonoscillating pulses: a high-repetition train of such pulses can be produced in multicomponent stimulated Raman scattering [1], and a single pulse ("electromagnetic bubble" -- EMB) or several of them can result [2,3] from the propagation of an initially broad unipolar pulse (half-cycle pulse -- HCP [4]) in an appropriate nonlinear medium. Such pulses could cause a substantial "shake-up" excitation or ionization of an atomic system within the time much smaller than any characteristic time of the system. These "superpulses" would open a new chapter in nonlinear optics and atomic and molecular physics, both as a new probing tool and a source of new effects. In the present paper, we consider one of them: backward and multi-echo field ionization [5].

We demonstrate the feasibility of strong (up to atomic fields) and super-short (few- or even sub-femtosecond) sub-cycle (non-oscillating) electromagnetic solitons — EM bubbles (EMBs) in a gas of two-level atoms, as well as EMBs and pre-ionization shock waves in classically nonlinear atoms. We show that EMBs can be generated by existing sources of radiation, including sub-picosecond half-cycle pulses and very short laser pulses. We investigate how EMB characteristics are controlled by those of originating pulses. Our most recent results are focused on the related transient phenomena, including EMB formation length, multi-bubble generation and shock-like waves. We also develop the theory of the diffraction-induced transformation of sub-cycle pulses in linear media. These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.

We demonstrate the feasibility of strong (up to atomic fields) and supershort (few-femtosecond or even subfemtosecond) subcycle (nonoscillating) electromagnetic solitons [EM bubbles (EMB’s)] in a gas of two-level atoms as well as EMB’s and preionization shock waves in classically nonlinear atoms. We show that EMB’s can be generated by existing sources of radiation, including subpicosecond half-cycle pulses and short laser pulses. We investigate how EMB characteristics are controlled by those of originating pulses. Our most recent results are focused on related transient phenomena, including EMB formation length, multibubble generation, and shocklike waves.

Recent advances in the ultrashort laser technology have spawned a series of new directions of research in atomic and molecular physics. This work compounds two studies on the control and probing of atomic matter by ultrafast laser pulses. The first study is concerned with the control of quantum wavepackets focusing by chirped, ultrashort laser pulses. The ability to control wavepacket focusing is important for the achievement of specific excitation pathways, for controlling chemical reactivity or even molecular synthesis. In this work, we present a general method for wavepacket control in the weak field limit. Numerical simulations involving the ICN molecule confirm our theoretical framework. The second study refers to the ionization of sodium Rydberg states via half-cycle pulses (HCPs). For this process, our full quantum-mechanical calculations demonstrate an asymmetry in both ionization rates and ionization spectrum between the downhill (Stark red-shifted) and uphill (Stark blue- shifted) states. The asymmetry is explained by appealing to a semi-classical model of the interfering ionization pathways.