Observation of two-photon above-threshold ionization of rare gases by xuv harmonic photons

We have successfully observed two-photon above-threshold ionization in rare gas atoms (Ar, Xe, and He) by the fifth harmonic (25 eV photon energy) of a KrF laser. Use of the energy-resolved photoelectron counting system together with our laser, providing strong 25 eV radiation at 40-100 Hz, enabled us to detect the very weak single-color two-photon above-threshold ionization signals. Experimental data are in good agreement with our theoretical calculations newly developed along the line of multichannel quantum defect theory.     

The spectrum of above-threshold electrons produced upon atom ionization by a short light pulse

The Landau-Dykhne approximation for the spectrum of above-threshold electrons produced upon ionization of atoms by a monochromatic laser field is used to calculate the spectrum in the case of ionization by a short laser pulse. The spectra obtained in this way are compared with those calculated by the adiabatic theory. The comparison shows that the Landau-Dykhne approximation with the properly chosen exponential factor describes well the averaged spectrum.     

Energy- and angle-resolved photoelectron spectra of above-threshold ionization and detachment

We analyze strong-laser-field induced above-threshold ionization and above-threshold detachment processes within the strong-field approximation. Energy and angular distribution of photoelectrons are presented for two cases: (1) high-order above-threshold ionization of electrons from neutral atoms by a linearly polarized laser field and (2) above-threshold detachment of electrons from negative ions by a bicircular laser field. In particular, for the case (1) we compare the results obtained using a long pulse with the flat-top spatial intensity distribution in the laser focus with the results obtained using the Gaussian distribution. We also analyze the intensity-dependent resonant-like enhancements. We show that the position and shape of these enhancements strongly depend on the atomic ground state parity. The bicircular field of the case (2) consists of two counter-rotating circularly polarized fields having the frequencies rω and sω with integer r and s. The properties of the photoelectron spectra generated by such bicircular field are illustrated using an ω–4ω example. The spectra obtained are explained in terms of the interference of partial detachment amplitudes which correspond to different complex solutions of the saddle-point equations.     

Low-frequency approximation for high-order above-threshold ionization

The low-frequency approximation (LFA) for high-order above-threshold ionization is presented. A factorization formula for the differential ionization rate is derived and its range of validity is analyzed. The theory developed is illustrated using the example of Ar atoms. Details of the modeling of the ground state and the rescattering potential for Ar are given. In particular, it is shown, by solving the stationary Schrödinger equation, that our rescattering potential reproduces the Hartree—Fock-type ground-state wave function that we used for the LFA. Electron momentum distributions for ionization of the Ar atom by a linearly polarized laser field having intensity 2.3 × 1014 W/cm² and wavelength 800 nm are shown. The results obtained using the improved strong-field approximation on the one hand and the LFA on the other are compared.     

Molecular imaging using high-order harmonic generation and above-threshold ionization

Accurate molecular imaging via high-order harmonic generation relies on comparing harmonic emission from a laser-irradiated molecule and an adequate reference system. However, an ideal reference atom with the same ionization properties as the molecule is not always available. We show that for suitably designed, very short laser pulses, a one-to-one mapping from high-order harmonic frequencies to electron momenta in above-threshold ionization exists. Comparing molecular and atomic momentum distributions then provides the electron recollision amplitude in the molecule for enhanced molecular imaging. The method retrieves the molecular recombination transition moments highly accurately, even with suboptimal reference atoms.     

Probing time delay of strong-field resonant above-threshold ionization

The high-resolution three-dimensional photoelectron momentum distributions via above-threshold ionization(ATI)of Xe atoms are measured in an intense near circularly polarized laser field using velocity map imaging and tomography reconstruction. Compared to the linearly polarized laser field, the employed near circularly polarized laser field imposes a more strict selection rule for the transition via resonant excitation, and therefore we can selectively enhance the resonant ATI through certain atomic Rydberg states. Our results show the self-reference ionization delay, which is determined from the difference between the measured streaking angles for nonadiabatic ATI via the 4 f and 5 f Rydberg states, is 45.6 as. Our method provides an accessible route to highlight the role of resonant transition between selected states, which will pave the way for fully understanding the ionization dynamics toward manipulating electron motion as well as reaction in an ultrafast time scale.     

Relativistic nonperturbative above-threshold phenomena in strong laser fields

Relativistic features of various nonperturbative above-threshold phenomena in strong laser fields are discussed and compared. This includes above-threshold ionization of multiply charged ions as well as pair production in an ultrastrong laser wave, superimposed with either a nuclear Coulomb field or another counterpropagating laser wave. For the probability of above-threshold pair production, a new scaling relation is given. Particular attention is paid to similarities among these processes, regarding the energy and angular spectra of the particles as well as the total reaction rates.     

Gain coefficient of a high harmonic emitted during the above-threshold ionization of atoms

The problem of the amplification of high harmonics generated during the above-threshold ionization of atoms in a high-power laser wave field is examined for the first time. An estimate of the gain coefficient as a function of the parameters of the atom beam and the pump wave is given. Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 115, 1630–1641 (May 1999)     

A method for calculating above-threshold multiphoton processes in atoms: Polarizability of alkali-metal and noble gas atoms

A technique for calculating above-threshold bound-bound transitions of an atomic optical electron, based on the use of generalized Sturm expansion of the Green’s function for a potential with a Coulomb asymptotics has been developed within the model-potential method. The dynamic polarizabilities of alkali-metal and noble gas atoms are calculated in the frequency range above the ionization threshold.     

Molecular above-threshold ionization with a circularly polarized laser field

Molecular above-threshold ionization by a circularly polarized laser field is investigated. Our theoretical approach is based on the modified molecular strong-field approximation. Various gauge-dependent versions of this approximation are considered and homonuclear and heteronuclear molecular species characterized by different symmetries are used as targets. As in the case of a linearly polarized field, the imprint of the molecular multicenter structure can be observed in the above-threshold ionization spectra. It manifests itself as minima in the rate of the ionized electrons as a function of their energy. The locations of these minima are strongly influenced by the symmetry of the corresponding highest occupied molecular orbital as well as the internuclear separation. Analyzing the interference structures of the electron spectra one can obtain information about the molecular symmetry.     

Threshold-related enhancement of the high-energy plateau in above-threshold detachment

We present nonperturbative theoretical results showing a resonant-like enhancement of above-threshold detachment spectra in the region of the high-energy plateau as the laser intensity sweeps across channel thresholds. This enhancement has a pure quantum origin stemming from well-known threshold phenomena in multichannel problems whose features are clearly demonstrated in our numerical results. Similar well-known anomalies at neutral atom thresholds are expected to explain experimentally observed resonant-like enhancements of above-threshold ionization spectra.     

Multiple-plateau structure and scaling relation in photoelectron spectra of high-order above-threshold ionization

By developing a full quantum scattering theory of high-order above-threshold ionization,we study the energy spectra and the angular distributions of photoelectrons from atoms with intense laser fields shining on them.We find that real rescattering can occur many times,and even infinite times.The photoelectrons from the rescattering process form a broad plateau in the kinetic-energy spectrum.We further disclose a multiple-plateau structure formed by the high-energy photoelectrons,which absorb many photons during the rescattering process.Moreover,we find that both the angular distributions and the kinetic-energy spectra of photoelectrons obey the same scaling law as that for directly emitted photoelectrons.     

New results in above-threshold ionization and high-order harmonic generation of atomic and molecular systems

Numerical results obtained applying the strong-field approximation to atomic and molecular processes in intense laser fields are presented. In particular, the forward-backward asymmetry in high-order above-threshold ionization (HATI) of Ar atoms by a few-cycle laser pulse is considered. It is shown that the resonantlike enhancements observed in the focal-averaged spectra disappear with the decreasing laser pulse duration. For HATI and high-order harmonic generation (HHG) by molecular systems, we present new results for diatomic molecules. The choice of gauge and the problem of dressing of the initial bound state are discussed. The appearance of the interference minima in molecular HATI and HHG spectra and their role in the characterization of the molecular structure are considered using the example of the Ar₂ molecule.     

高阶阈值上电离的量子电动力学理论

用非微扰量子电动力学理论研究一个由再散射产生的高阶阈值上电离（ATI）.利用形式散射理论给出了高阶ATI谱的解析形式，并且讨论了在高阶ATI中不同ATI通道的干涉效应和光电子以不同角度入射时的高阶ATI谱. 关键词： 阈值上电离 再散射 跃迁概率     

Quantum-orbit theory of low-energy above-threshold ionization on and off axis

Intense-laser-induced above-threshold ionization of a bound electron into continuum states with low energy is investigated in the context of the strong-field approximation that allows for one act of rescattering of the revisiting electron. The quantum orbits for forward and backward scattering are evaluated and generalized to arbitrary scattering angles. The velocity map of the liberated electron exhibits the well-known low-energy structure as well as other features off the polarization axis.     

Experimental evidence of above-threshold photoemission in solids

Nonlinear photoemission from a silver single crystal is investigated by femtosecond laser pulses in a perturbative regime. A clear observation of above-threshold photoemission in solids is reported for the first time. The ratio between the three-photon above-threshold and the two-photon Fermi edges is found to be 10(-4). This value constitutes the only available benchmark for theories aimed at understanding the mechanism responsible for above-threshold photoemission in solids.     

Waves in plasma formed by above-threshold ionization of gas atoms

In the regime of above-threshold ionization of gas atom in the field of laser radiation, plasma with photoelectron distribution consisting of peaks at discrete energy values is formed. It is shown that the number of longitudinal waves in such plasma coincides with the number of peaks in the distribution function. When peaks practically don't overlap, the dispersion law of each wave in the region of short waves is determined by electrons from the corresponding peak. In this case the phase and group velocities of the waves are close to the electron velocity, which corresponds to the peak maximum. It is possible to talk about such waves as an electronic sound, since the perturbations of the electron density mainly arise due to pressure perturbations. When the peaks are narrow, but having a finite width, the Cherenkov damping of waves is exponentially small. Numerical calculations the dispersion laws for of the two and four waves in photoionized xenon plasma, in which the electron distribution function consists of two or four narrow peaks are given.     

Simulation of above-threshold ionization experiments using the strong-field approximation

Recently performed above-threshold ionization (ATI) experiments with noble gases allow the determination of the complete energy and angular distribution of the emitted photoelectrons. In order to simulate such experiments, we have generalized our numerical code for the calculation of ATI spectra in order to achieve a realistic simulation of ATI of the noble gases He, Ne, Ar, Kr, and Xe. Our method is based on an improved version of the strong-field approximation and includes focal averaging. A semiclassical analysis of the dependence of the cutoff law on the photoelectron emission angle is presented. The effects of channel closings on the high-energy spectra are analyzed.     

Experimental study of the characteristics of high-power laser diode radiation in the above-threshold mode for degradation analysis

The angular dependence of the intensity and contrast of the radiation of laser diodes (LDs) with a CW power of 1.25 W has been investigated in the above-threshold mode. An original method for detecting fundamental lasing is used to analyze the mode structure of the LD radiation at low pump currents. It is shown that this radiation contrast measurement makes it possible to detect the LD degradation in earlier stages than in power measurements.     

Ellipticity dependence of high-order above-threshold ionization from aligned diatomic molecules

We investigate high-order above-threshold ionization of the Ar₂ molecule by an elliptically polarized laser field. In order to describe this process we use the modified molecular strong-field approximation. We have found that the differential ionization rate is a very sensitive function of the ellipticity of the laser field and of the molecular orientation. For parallel orientation the rate has the maximum value for linear polarization, independently of the laser intensity. On the other hand, for perpendicular orientation the rate is maximal for a particular value of the ellipticity which is different from zero. Such a behavior can be related to the molecular symmetry. We consider the differential ionization rate of high-energy electrons as a function of the ellipticity for different internuclear distances. We also present, in the electron energy-emission angle plane, our new results for the focal-averaged spectra of electrons ionized by an elliptically polarized laser field. We have found that, in this case, the two-source two-rescattering-centers interference minima are blurred.