Circular dichroism in laser-assisted short-pulse photoionization

A remarkable effect of circular dichroism, i.e., a difference in photoelectron spectra produced by right and left circularly polarized light in two-color multiphoton ionization of atoms, is predicted for the case when the atom is ionized by an extreme ultraviolet or x-ray femtosecond pulse in the field of a strong infrared laser pulse, both pulses being circularly polarized. We show that the sidebands formed in the spectra exhibit different circular dichroism often of different signs both in angle-resolved and angle-integrated experimental conditions. The effect can be used for detecting and measuring circular polarization of x rays in a spectral range where other methods are not effective.     

Rescattering double ionization of D2 and H2 by intense laser pulses

We have measured momentum spectra and branching ratios of charged ionic fragments emitted in the double ionization of D2 (and H2) molecules by short intense laser pulses. We find high-energy coincident D+ (and H+) ion pairs with kinetic energy releases between 8 and 19 eV which appear for linearly polarized light but are absent for circularly polarized light. The dependence on the polarization, the energy distributions of the ions, and the dependence on laser intensity of yield ratios lead us to interpret these ion pairs as due to a rescattering mechanism for the double ionization. A quantitative model is presented which accounts for the major features of the data.     

On the problem of measuring the degree of polarization of synchrotron radiation

The possibility for determining the degree of polarization of synchrotron radiation by measuring linear dichroism in stepwise ionization of an autoionization state of an atom with a known total momentum is considered.     

The effect of electron initial longitudinal velocity on the non-sequential double ionization process in an elliptically polarized laser field

The effect of initial longitudinal velocity of the tunnelled electron on the non-sequential double ionization(NSDI) process in an elliptically polarized laser field is studied by a semiclassical model.We find that the non-zero initial longitudinal velocity has a suppressing effect on single-return collision(SRC) events in the double ionization process,more specifically,it results in an obvious reduction in the center part of the correlation momentum distributions in the direction of the major polarization axis(z axis) and makes the distribution of single-return collision in the minor polarization axis(x axis) become narrower.     

Circular dichroism in biological photonic crystals and cubic chiral nets

Nature provides impressive examples of chiral photonic crystals, with the notable example of the cubic so-called srs network (the label for the chiral degree-three network modeled on SrSi2) or gyroid structure realized in wing scales of several butterfly species. By a circular polarization analysis of the band structure of such networks, we demonstrate strong circular dichroism effects: The butterfly srs microstructure, of cubic I4(1)32 symmetry, shows significant circular dichroism for blue to ultraviolet light, that warrants a search for biological receptors sensitive to circular polarization. A derived synthetic structure based on four like-handed silicon srs nets exhibits a large circular polarization stop band of a width exceeding 30%. These findings offer design principles for chiral photonic devices.     

Magnetic dichroism in off-normal valence-band photoemission

Magnetic dichroism in off-normal photoemission from valence bands of ferromagnets is studied by both symmetry considerations and numerical relativistic calculations. In general set-ups (light polarization, incidence and emission directions, magnetization direction), dichroism is either due to change of the light polarization or due to magnetization reversal, or due to both. Relations between photoemission intensities for different set-ups lead to the definition of asymmetries in order to probe the origin of the dichroism. Numerical relativistic photoemission calculations provide quantitative results for prototypical systems: Ni/Cu(001) with perpendicular magnetization, Co/Cu(001) with in-plane magnetization, and non-magnetic Cu(001).     

The effect of electron initial longitudinal velocity on non-sequential double ionization process in elliptically polarized laser field

The effect of initial longitudinal velocity of the tunnelled electron on the non-sequential double ionization (NSDI) process in elliptically polarized laser field is studied by a semiclassical model. We find that the non-zero initial longitudinal velocity has a suppressing effect on single-return collision (SRC) events in double ionization process, more specifically, it results in an obvious reduction in the center part of the correlation momentum distributions in the direction of the major polarization axis (z axis) and makes the distribution of single-return collision in the minor polarization axis (x axis) become narrow.     

Cancellation of simple optical anisotropies without use of a Faraday mirror

We first derive the round-trip Jones matrix for double passage through a reciprocal optical medium by means of reflection off a plane mirror that could be optically anisotropic. We then show that if a medium with only linear birefringence and linear dichroism is placed between a pair of orthogonal quarter-wave plates with principal axes at 45 degrees to that of the medium and the sandwich is placed in front of an isotropic mirror it behaves, under double passage, like an isotropic medium. We describe a simple liquid crystal device that behaves, in reflection, as an isotropic medium whose refractive index can be varied by application of an electric field, thus acting as a phase only modulator for light in any polarization state.     

Rotation of the light polarization plane by an ensemble of oriented linear associates: Model representations

In an “oriented gas” model expressions are obtained for the angle of nongyrotropic rotation of the polarization plane (NRPP) of transmitted light by an ensemble of oriented associates consisting of nongyrotropic molecules. The cluster character of the nongyrotropic rotation of the polarization plane and the dependence of its angle on the incident light polarization vector azimuth are noted, which distinguish linear and circular polarization effects. Measurement of linear dichroism by the angle of nongyrotropic rotation of the polarization plane with the use of commercial spectropolarimeters is theoretically justified. Institute of Molecular and Atomic Physics, National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, 70, F. Skorina Ave., Minsk, 220072 Belarus. Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Spektroskopii, Vol. 65, No. 1, pp. 95–101, January–February, 1998.     

Second-order orientation effects in light scattering by polarized atoms

A compact expression is derived for the part of the cross section for light scattering by axisymmetrically polarized atomic systems proportional to the third-rank state multipole. The effect of the second-order orientation determined by this state multipole on the polarization and angular distribution of the scattered light is studied. The polarization of the incident light can be arbitrary and is specified by the Stokes parameters. A number of orientation effects in the scattering process are shown to be induced precisely by the second-order orientation. In particular, when nonpolarized light is scattered by an oriented atom, the scattering intensity in the perpendicular direction depends on the second-order orientation alone. The second-order orientation also preserves circular dichroism in the linear polarization of the forward-and back-scattered light.     

Sudden interchannel interaction in the Tl 6p ionization above the 5d threshold

The linear magnetic dichroism in the angular distribution of Tl 5d and 6p photoelectrons and their dynamical spin polarization have been measured between hnu = 30 and 50 eV. In contrast to the Xe 5p photoionization at the 4d threshold, our results show that above the Tl 5d threshold strong interchannel coupling effects induce a sudden increase in the asymptotic phase difference of the s and d waves for the Tl 6p ionization. This shows that the valence excitation is different for resonant (Xe 4d) and nonresonant (Tl 5d) excitation from subvalence shells.     

Manifestation of the second-order alignment in light scattering by polarized atoms

An expression for the cross section of light scattering by axisymmetrically aligned atomic systems is derived in a compact form. The cross section under consideration is proportional to the state multipole of the fourth rank. The effect of the second-order alignment determined by the fourth-rank state multipole on the polarization and the angular distribution of scattered light is investigated. The polarization of incident light can be arbitrary and, in the general case, is specified by the Stokes parameters. In particular, it is demonstrated that the second-order alignment cannot induce circular polarization of scattered light and does not influence the dissipation-induced effects of circular dichroism associated with the first-order alignment but leads to a change in the angular distribution and the degree of linear polarization of the scattered light.     

X rays from optical-field ionized plasmas at low density

We present results of an experiment in which x rays from an optical-field ionized plasma are generated under well-controlled conditions in a low-pressure gas cell. In this way high-density effects such as electron heating, collisional ionization, and ionization defocusing are avoided. Using N(2) as the medium, we show that many features of the soft-x-ray emission follow theoretical predictions. In particular, higher x-ray intensity is observed on most lines for circularly than for linearly polarized light. However, several Li-like lines show anomalously strong emission for linear polarization. Mechanisms that may be responsible for this effect are discussed.     

X-ray linear dichroism dependence on ferroelectric polarization

X-ray absorption spectroscopy and photoemission electron microscopy are techniques commonly used to determine the magnetic properties of thin films, crystals, and heterostructures. Recently, these methods have been used in the study of magnetoelectrics and multiferroics. The analysis of such materials has been compromised by the presence of multiple order parameters and the lack of information on how to separate these coupled properties. In this work, we shed light on the manifestation of dichroism from ferroelectric polarization and atomic structure using photoemission electron microscopy and x-ray absorption spectroscopy. Linear dichroism arising from the ferroelectric order in the PbZr0:2Ti0:8O3 thin films was studied as a function of incident x-ray polarization and geometry to unambiguously determine the angular dependence of the ferroelectric contribution to the dichroism. These measurements allow us to examine the contribution of surface charges and ferroelectric polarization as potential mechanisms for linear dichroism. The x-ray linear dichroism from ferroelectric order revealed an angular dependence based on the angle between the ferroelectric polarization direction and the x-ray polarization axis, allowing a formula for linear dichroism in ferroelectric samples to be defined.     

Polarization in D-shaped fiber modulated by magneto-optical dichroism of magnetic fluid

The polarization of a D-shaped fiber is modulated after immersing it in magnetic fluid(MF)and applying a magnetic field.Theoretical analysis predicts that magneto-optical dichroism of MF plays a key role in light polarization modulation.During light polarization modulation,the evanescent wave polarized parallel to the magnetic field has greater loss than its orthogonal component.Light polarization of a D-shaped fiber with a wide polished surface can be modulated easily.High concentration MF and a large magnetic field all have great ability to modulate light polarization.     

Two-photon bremsstrahlung processes in atoms: Polarization effects and analytic results for the Coulomb potential

The partial wave analysis of two-photon free-free (bremsstrahlung) electron transition cross sections during scattering by a static potential U(r), as well as by an atom with a nonzero angular momentum, is carried out. The dipole interaction with radiation is taken into account in the second order of perturbation theory for the general case of elliptic polarization of photons. The polarization and angular dependences of the two-photon potential scattering amplitude is presented as a combination of the scalar product of electron momenta and photon polarization vectors and five atomic parameters containing Legendre polynomials of the scattering angle as well as radial matrix elements depending on the initial (E) and final (E′) electron energies. The results are applicable both for spontaneous double bremsstrahlung at nonrelativistic energies and for induced absorption and emission in the field of a light wave. Specific polarization effects (circular and elliptic dichroism) are analyzed for two-photon bremsstrahlung processes associated with the interference of the Hermite and anti-Hermite parts of the amplitude and depending on the sign of photon helicity. The limiting cases of high and low photon frequencies are investigated analytically, and the asymptotic forms of radial matrix elements and amplitudes for the general form of the U(r) potential are determined. Closed analytic expressions are derived for the radial matrix elements of the Coulomb potential in the form of integrals of hypergeometric function, and singularities are singled out in explicit form for E′ → E. The methods of approximate calculation of the radial matrix elements are discussed, and the results of their exact numerical calculation, as well as angular distributions and the cross sections of induced one-and two-photon emission and absorption, are given for the case of the Coulomb potential. The numerical results show that dichroism effects are quite accessible for experimental observations.     

Single and double ionization of the hydrogen molecule in an intense few-cycle laser pulse

In this paper, we present ab initio two-electron model calculations of laser-induced single and double ionization of the hydrogen molecule in a linearly polarized laser field with static nuclei located along the polarization axis. Within the model, the center-of-mass motion of the two electrons is restricted along the polarization axis of the field, while the relative electron motion is unrestricted. The results of numerical simulations allow us to identify and characterize the mechanisms leading to single and double ionization in an intense few-cycle laser pulse. The role of the rescattering mechanism on the ionization processes is analyzed in particular.     

Controlling attosecond double ionization dynamics via molecular alignment

We investigate the dynamics of double ionization in aligned nitrogen molecules. An ultrashort, weak laser pulse creates an aligned ensemble of molecules that is ionized with a subsequent, strong probe pulse. We find that the two electrons involved in nonsequential double ionization more likely exit the molecule in the same direction if it is parallel to the probe laser polarization, indicating that they are ejected within a few hundred attoseconds of each other. Double ionization is less probable and takes longer for perpendicular molecules.     

Experimental verification of quadrupole-dipole interference in spin-resolved photoionization

We have measured the spin polarization of Xe (4p)(-1) photoelectrons after ionization with circularly polarized light at photon energies close to the ionization threshold where a resonant enhancement of quadrupole transitions has recently been predicted. At a reaction angle of 90 degrees a nonvanishing longitudinal spin polarization component of about 4% clearly indicates a quadrupole contribution to the photoexcitation. This is the first experimental evidence for the influence of nondipole transitions on the photoionization process at excitation energies much below 1 keV in an observable other than the intensity angular distribution.     

Theory of laser-induced amplitude and phase gratings including photoselection,orientational relaxation and population kinetics

The generation of amplitude and phase gratings in an absorbing medium is discussed, including the effects of light polarization, population kinetics and orientational relaxation. A theory is given which describes light diffraction by a combination of an amplitude and a phase grating. It is shown that the coherent coupling effect in transient absorption measurements is solely due to the amplitude grating. Weak absorption and a low triplet yield favour diffraction of the probing beam by the phase grating in triple-beam experiments. Phase grating experiments can be performed with highly soluble absorber dyes, the absorption maximum of which is far away from the laser wavelength. Due to photoselection, diffraction by an amplitude grating depends on the polarization of the probing beam while phase grating diffraction is insensitive to this. Perpendicular polarization of the two exciting pulses prevents the buildup of a phase grating and results in light diffracted by the amplitude grating that is proportional to the transient dichroism signal as known from the common absorption relaxation.