Duration-Dependent Asymmetry in Photoionization of H atoms in Few-Cycle Laser Pulses

The photoionization of H atoms irradiated by few-cycle laser pulses is studied numerically. The variations of the total ionization, the partial ionizations in opposite directions, and the corresponding asymmetry with the carrier-envelope phase in several pulse durations are obtained. We find that besides a stronger modulation on the partial ionizations, the change of pulse duration leads to a shift along carrier-envelope （CE） phase in the calculated signals. The phase shift arises from the nonlinear property of ionization and relates closely to the Coulomb attraction of the parent ion to the ionized electron. Our calculations show good agreement with the experimental observation under similar conditions.     

Laser-induced breakdown of krypton near five-photon ionization threshold

Selective excitation of laser-induced breakdown in krypton in the pressure range 1–4 bar and the spectral range 420–620 nm at a laser intensity of 10¹¹ W/cm² has been studied. It is shown that the breakdown of krypton can be induced selectively due to resonantly enhanced multiphoton ionization via excited atomic states. A number of four- and five-photon atomic resonances have been identified in breakdown excitation spectra. The role of different factors determining the selectivity of the breakdown has been studied. Possible analytical applications of a selective breakdown are discussed.     

Generalized Pseudospectral Method for Solving the Time-Dependent Schrödinger Equation Involving the Coulomb Potential

We present an accurate and efficient generalized pseudospectral method for solving the time-dependent Schrödinger equation for atomic systems interacting with intense laser fields. In this method, the time propagation of the wave function is calculated using the well-known second-order split-operator method implemented by the numerically exact, fast transform between the grid and spectral representations. In the grid representation, the radial coordinate is discretized using the Coulomb wave discrete variable representation (CWDVR), and the angular dependence of the wave function is expanded in the Gauss-Legendre-Fourier grid. In the spectral representation, the wave function is expanded in terms of the eigenfunctions of the field-free zero-order Hamiltonian. Calculations on the high order harmonic generation and ionization dynamics of hydrogen atom in strong laser pulses are presented to demonstrate the accuracy and efficiency of the present method. This new algorithm will be found more computationally attractive than the close-coupled wave packet method using CWDVR and/or methods based on evenly spaced grids.     

Rydberg stabilization of atoms in strong fields: the “magic mountain” in the chaotic sea

We discuss the classical problem of an hydrogen atom interacting with a monochromatic field. We illustrate in particular, analytically and numerically, the stabilization mechanism and give theoretical expressions for the stabilization borders.     

Measurement of Carrier-Envelope Phase and Field Strength of a Few-Cycle Pulse by Non-sequential Double Ionization

We propose a method to measure the carrier-envelop phase （CEP） and the intensity of a few-cycle pulse by controlling the non-sequentiai double ionization （NSDI） process. By using an additional static electric field, we can change the momentum distribution of the double-charged ions parallel to the laser polarization from an asymmetrical double-hump structure to a nearly symmetrical one. It is found that the ratio between the strength of the static electric field and that of the laser field is sensitive to the CEP but robust against the intensity fluctuation. Therefore we can determine the OEP of a few-cycle pulse precisely by measuring the static electric field. Fhrthermore, if the CEP of the few-cycle pulse is fixed at a certain value, we can also calibrate the intensity of the laser pulse by the static electric field.     

Stimulated emission of a laser photon by the excited states of a three-level atom

We study the stimulated emission spectra arising from the emission of a laser photon by two excited states of a three-level atom interacting with a laser field at low intensities. The lifetimes of the stimulated photons emitted by the two excited states are much longer than those emitted spontaneously, while the intensities of the induced peaks take negative values indicating that amplification occurs at low frequencies. The ratio of the intensities of the light emitted by the excited states |3 > and |2 > of the atom is proportional to (₃/₂)^1/2, where ₃ and ₂ are the radiative decay rates of the spontaneously emitted photons by the excited states |3 > and |2 > into the ground state |1 > of the atom, respectively. An absorption spectrum is induced into the ground state of the atom by the laser field. The competition between induced absorption and stimulated emission at low frequencies without population inversion is considered in the low-intensity limit of the laser field. It is shown that for values of ₃/₂ > 1 the relative intensity (height) of the induced peak takes positive values implying that the process of the induced absorption dominates. As the ratio ₃/₂ increases, the height of the induced peak decreases and vanishes for values of ₃/₂ < 400. For values of ₃/₂ > 400, the height of the induced peak becomes negative indicating that the process of the stimulated emission (amplification) is likely to occur at low frequencies. The computed spectra are graphically presented and discussed.Issued as NRCC No. 39088     

Effects of the pulse area and pulse number on the population dynamics of atoms interacting with a train of ultrashort pulses

We theoretically investigate the effects of the pulse area and the pulse number in a train of ultrashort pulses with an ultrahigh repetition rate in terms of the population dynamics. Because of the interpulse interference the upper state population exhibits an oscillatory behavior as a function of the laser detuning. The pulse area and the pulse number significantly affect the periodic structure of population oscillation.     

Generation of a Super Strong Attosecond Pulse from an Atomic Superposition State Irradiated by a Shape-Optimized Short Pulse

Using a linearly polarized, phase-stabilized 3-fs driving pulse of 800 nm central wavelength shape-optimized on its＇ascending edge by its an amplitude-reduced pulse irradiating on a superposition state of the helium atom, we demonstrate theoretically the generation of a super strong isolated 176-attosecond pulse in the spectral region of 93-124 eV. The unusually high intensity of this attosecond pulse is marked by the Rabi-like oscillations emerging in the time-dependent populations of the ground state and the continuum during the occurrence of the electron recombination, which is for the first time observed in this work.     

Single X-Ray Attosecond Pulse Generation by Using Combined Pulses Irradiating on a United Two-Atom System

A scheme of a single x-ray attosecond pulse generation from a two-atom system exposed to the combined laser pulses is proposed. Our numerical results show that a single x-ray attosecond pulse rather than a train one can be produced by modulation of ionization. Furthermore, when we change the peak intensity Ih of the high-frequency pulse and keep the intensity of the low-frequency pulse constant, we can find that a range of Ih where the intensity of the attosecond pulse is optimal is available, and a explanation by the stimulated property of the recombination is also presented.     

A Theoretical Strategy to Generate an Isolated 80-Attosecond Pulse

Using a linearly polarized, phase-stabilized 2.66-femtosecond driving pulse of 400 nm central wavelength orthogonally combined with another linearly polarized long pulse of 800 nm central wavelength irradiating jointly on the helium atom, we demonstrate theoretically the generation of a clean isolated 80-attosecond pulse in the spectral region of 93-155 electron volts in a two-dimensional model.     

Strengthened Hyper-Raman Lines with the Coherent Superposition State

High-order harmonic generations from a one-dimensional Coulomb potential atom are calculated with the initial state prepared as a coherent superposition between its ground and first excited states. When the energy difference of the two states is small, we can choose proper laser pulse such that the first excited state can be excited only to other bound states instead of being ionized. We show that only the hyper-Raman lines are observable instead of the harmonics. The energy difference of the ground and the first excited state can be deduced from the highest peak of the hyper-Raman lines. We further show that the similar results can be obtained by using a combination of two laser pulses with different frequencies interacting with the atom initially at the ground state.     

Isotope selective loading of an ion trap using resonance-enhanced two-photon ionization

We have demonstrated that resonance-enhanced two-photon ionization of atomic beams provides an effective tool for isotope selective loading of ions into a linear Paul trap. Using a tunable, narrow-bandwidth, continuous wave (cw) laser system for the ionization process, we have succeeded in producing Mg⁺ and Ca⁺ ions at rates controlled by the atomic beam flux, the laser intensity, and the laser frequency detuning from resonance. We have observed that with a proper choice of control parameters, it is rather easy to load a specific number of ions into a string. This observation has direct applications in quantum optics and quantum computation experiments. Furthermore, resonant photo-ionization loading facilitates the formation of large isotope-pure Coulomb crystals. Received: 21 December 1999 / Published online: 11 May 2000     

Coherent excitation of Rydberg atoms in an ultracold gas

We demonstrate two schemes for the coherent excitation of Rydberg atoms in an ultracold gas of rubidium atoms employing the three-level ladder system 5S_1/2-5P_3/2-n?_j. In the first approach rapid adiabatic passage with pulsed laser fields yields Rydberg excitation probabilities of 90% in the center of the laser focus. In a second experiment two-photon Rydberg excitation with continuous-wave fields is applied which results in Rabi oscillations between the ground and Rydberg state. The experiments represent a prerequisite for the control of interactions in ultracold Rydberg gases and the application of ultracold Rydberg gases for quantum information processing.     

Superfluid properties of a Bose-Einstein condensate in an optical lattice confined in a cavity

We study the effect of a one dimensional optical lattice in a cavity field with quantum properties on the superfluid dynamics of a Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC). In the cavity the influence of atomic backaction and the external driving pump become important and modify the optical potential. Due to the coupling between the condensate wavefunction and the cavity modes, the cavity light field develops a band structure. This study reveals that the pump and the cavity emerges as a new handle to control the superfluid properties of the BEC.     

Kilohertz extreme-ultraviolet light source based on femtosecond high-order harmonic generation from noble gases

A compact, versatile table-top kilohertz source of coherent extreme-ultraviolet (XUV) radiation in the wavelength region 18–100 nm, based on high-order harmonic generation from noble gases induced by a 40-femtosecond Ti:sapphire laser system, is presented. The XUV beamline delivers at its output 10⁸ photons/s at a wavelength of 23 nm. The monochromatized XUV radiation is directly focused onto a 10^-2-mm² spot by a toroidal grating, allowing one to reach intensities higher than 10⁶ W/cm². Optimization results are presented for a new XUV-generating geometry, utilizing a ‘semi-infinite’ quasi-static gas cell and strong focusing. In those conditions, we observe an anomalous inversion between the cutoffs of argon and krypton, with the krypton spectrum extending to much higher orders than expected in an adiabatic limit. Received: 9 July 2001 / Revised version: 1 August 2001 / Published online: 7 November 2001     

Nanoscale focusing of atoms with a pulsed standing wave

We have theoretically and experimentally investigated the focusing properties of a detuned pulsed standing wave onto a beam of neutral atoms. In close analogy to the continuous-wave situation the dipole force leads to a periodic focusing of atoms with a period of λ/2, provided an adiabatic condition is fulfilled. Pulsed laser light is conveniently converted to short wavelengths and hence offers advantages in the application of atom lithography with elements of technological interest having blue or UV resonance lines. Received: 6 October 1999 / Revised version: 3 February 2000 / Published online: 5 April 2000     

Carrier-Envelope-Phase Dependence of Emission Properties of High-Order Harmonic Generation

The carrler-envelope-phase （CEP） dependence of the emission properties of high-order harmonic generation （HHG） are quantitatively investigated. Calculation shows that a two-cycle laser with CEP of 15° can produce a single energy distribution pulse peaked at 0.94 radian （tad） and spanned 1.29 tad with the cutoff energy 2.9Up ＋ Ip and a bandwidth 0.86Up （where Up is the ponderomotive potential of the laser field and Ip is the atomic ionization potential）. The CEP dependence of the energy and temporal localizations of the single distribution pulse show interesting 180° periodic structures. These characteristics may be useful in optimizing attosecond x-ray sources and measurements.     

Laser-Duration Dependence of Emission Properties of High-Order Harmonic Generation

Quantitative investigations are made for the laser-duration dependence of the emission properties of high-order harmonic generation （HHG）. HHG emission properties produced by few-cycle lasers show some useful characteristics. The cutoff energy is less than that by laser for infinite duration. The single energy distribution pulse decreases much faster than its duration as the laser duration grows. A two-cycle laser with carrier-envelope phase of 0° can produce a single distribution pulse peaked at the laser carrier phase 1.22 rad and spanned 1.18 rad with the cutoff energy 2.9Up ＋ Ip and a bandwidth 0.63Up, where Up is the ponderomotive potential of the laser field and Ip is the atomic ionization potential.     

Rescattering effect in above-threshold ionization processes

The Keldysh-Faisal-Reiss (KFR) theory for Above-Threshold Ionization (ATI) phenomenon is generalized to include the effect that ionized electrons return to the vicinity of the ion core and rescatter with it. The theoretical calculation of such rescattering effects for the ground state of hydrogen under linearly polarized laser light yields good agreement with recent findings in ATI experiments.     

Superradiant Rayleigh scattering from a Bose-Einstein condensate with the incident laser along the long axis

We have realized the superradiant Rayleigh scattering in an elongated Bose-Einstein condensate, where the pump laser pulse travels along the long axis. In this incident configuration the spatial asymmetries and the backward scattering pattern are reported. The spatial and temporal evolution of the superradiant process is analyzed by our semiclassical model.