On phase-coherence in rescattering in multiphoton ionization and in higher-order harmonic generation

Summary  The recently discovered plateau and rings in high-order multiphoton ionization apparently have their origin in rescattering. Similarly, rescattering is involved in higher-order harmonic generation. Using a simple one-dimensional model, it is shown that the phase-coherence in this rescattering process is of considerable importance. The authors of this paper have agreed to not receive the proofs for correction. This work has been supported by the East-West Program of the Austrian Academy of Sciences and by the Austrian Ministry of Science and Transportation under project no. 45.372/2-IV/6/97. One of us (JZK) acknowledges the support of the Polish Committee of Scientific Research (grant KBN 2 P03B 007 13).