Limits on tunneling theories of strong-field ionization

It is shown that tunneling theories of ionization by lasers are subject to upper and lower bounds on the Keldysh parameter gamma. The tunneling limit, gamma-->0, applies to ionization by quasistatic electric fields, but not by laser fields. For lasers, the gamma-->0 limit requires a relativistic treatment. Bounds on the applicability of tunneling theories depend on parameters other than gamma, confirming the rule that strong-field phenomena require more than one dimensionless parameter for scaling.     

Angular momentum distribution in strong-field frustrated tunneling ionization

Using the classical-trajectory Monte Carlo model, we have theoretically studied the angular momentum distribution of frustrated tunneling ionization(FTI) of atoms in strong laser fields. Our results show that the angular momentum distribution of the FTI events exhibits a double-hump structure. With this classical model, we back traced the tunneling coordinates, i.e., the tunneling time and initial transverse momentum at tunneling ionization. It is shown that for the events tunneling ionized at the rising edge of the electric field,the final angular momentum exhibits a strong dependence on the initial transverse momentum at tunneling.While for the events ionized at the falling edge, there is a relatively harder recollision between the returning electron and the parent ion, leading to the angular momentum losing the correlation with the initial transverse momentum. Our study suggests that the angular momentum of the FTI events could be manipulated by controlling the initial coordinates of the tunneling ionization.     

X-ray microprobe of orbital alignment in strong-field ionized atoms

We have developed a synchrotron-based, time-resolved x-ray microprobe to investigate optical strong-field processes at intermediate intensities (10(14) - 10(15) W/cm2). This quantum-state specific probe has enabled the direct observation of orbital alignment in the residual ion produced by strong-field ionization of krypton atoms via resonant, polarized x-ray absorption. We found strong alignment to persist for a period long compared to the spin-orbit coupling time scale (6.2 fs). The observed degree of alignment can be explained by models that incorporate spin-orbit coupling. The methodology is applicable to a wide range of problems.     

Asymmetry in the strong-field ionization of Rydberg atoms by few-cycle pulses

We present measurements of the electron ejection direction in the ionization of high (n=90) Rydberg states of rubidium subjected to few-cycle radio-frequency (RF) pulses. For weak pulses we find a strong asymmetry for even (cosine) pulses and no asymmetry for odd (sine) pulses. This asymmetry disappears for pulses longer than four RF cycles. For strong pulses, very large asymmetry is found for both sine and cosine pulses that persists up to eight RF cycles and is attributed to initial state depletion effects within a cycle.     

Many-electron tunneling in atoms

A formula for describing the N-electron ionization of atoms by a dc field and laser radiation in the tunneling regime is derived theoretically, and numerical examples for noble-gas atoms are presented. Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 116, 410–417 (August 1999)     

Determination of structure parameters in strong-field ionization models of atoms

The Ammosov–Delone–Krainov (ADK) and Perelomov–Popov–Terent’ev (PPT) ionization models were widely used in strong-field physics and attosecond science due to their many attractive advantages such as simpler analytical formula, less computational demands, and satisfied accuracy of ionization rate. Based on the density-functional theory, we systematically determine accurate structure parameters of 25 atoms, 24 positive ions and 13 negative ions and tabulate for future applications. The wave function with correct asymptotic behavior is obtained by solving the time-independent Schrödinger equation with B-spline basis sets and the accurate structure parameters are extracted from this wave function in the asymptotic region. The accuracies of structure parameters are carefully examined by comparing the ionization probabilities (or yields) calculated by PPT and ADK models with those of solving the three-dimensional time-dependent Schrödinger equation and the experimental data.     

Probing the launching position of the electron wave packet in molecule strong-field tunneling ionization

Strong-field tunneling ionization is the first step for a broad class of phenomena in intense laser-atom/molecule interactions. Accurate information about the electron wave packet from strong-field tunneling ionization of atoms and molecules is of essential importance for understanding various tunneling ionization triggered processes. Here, we survey the property of the electron wave packet in tunneling ionization of molecules with a method based on strong-field photoelectron holography. By solving the time-dependent Schr ¨odinger equation, it is shown that the holographic interference in the photoelectron momentum distribution exhibits the asymmetric behavior with respect to the laser polarization direction, when the molecule is aligned with a nonzero angle to the linearly polarized laser field. We demonstrate that this asymmetry is due to the nonzero initial transverse displacement of the electron wave packet at tunneling. By analyzing the holographic interference, this transverse displacement for the launching of electron wave packet tunneling from the molecules is accurately retrieved. This displacement is directly related to the electron density distribution in molecules, and thus our work developed a novel concept for probing electronic structure in molecules.     

Correction to the tunneling theory in atoms

The theory of the tunneling ionization of atoms with several outer-shell electrons is specified. Numerical calculations for the noble-gas atoms are performed.     

强激光场中原子双电离动力学复杂机制分析

通过数值求解薛定谔方程并用“抓拍”(snapshot)的方式观测两电子动量分布,我们研究了超强超快激光场中原子发生非次序双电离的不同机制。我们的模拟表明“抓拍”过程中双电离波函数的选取范围对两电子动量分布图样的特征和分布范围等都有显著的影响。图样中这种由于不同的观测范围导致的明显区别直接地影响我们对非次序双电离动力学过程的分辨。为此本文即结合经典再散射三步模型,详细分析了“抓拍”过程中双电离波函数范围的选取,并深入讨论了不同的非次序双电离机制及其对应的动量分布的特征。本文的结果将给相关的实验研究提供有益的参考。     

Controlling ultracold Rydberg atoms in the quantum regime

We discuss the properties of Rydberg atoms in a magnetic Ioffe-Pritchard trap being commonly used in ultracold atomic physics experiments. The Hamiltonian is derived, and it is demonstrated how tight traps alter the coupling of the atom to the magnetic field. We solve the underlying Schr?dinger equation of the system within a given n manifold and show that for a sufficiently large Ioffe field strength the 2n;{2}-dimensional system of coupled Schr?dinger equations decays into several decoupled multicomponent equations governing the center of mass motion. An analysis of the fully quantized center of mass and electronic states is undertaken. In particular, we discuss the situation of tight center of mass confinement outlining the procedure to generate a low-dimensional ultracold Rydberg gas.     

Excitation of molecules in inelastic electron tunneling spectroscopy

Inelastic Electron Tunneling Spectroscopy (IETS) is used for the investigation of vibronic and electronic excitations of molecules deposited as interlayers in aluminum/ alumina/lead tunneling junctions. In this review the method itself is briefly discussed. As examples, investigations by IETS on sublimated merocyanine and phthalocyanine dye molecules are reviewed. Then further doping techniques developed by Jaklevic and Gaerttner and applications of IETS to problems in the physics of interfaces are discussed.     

Phonon-assisted tunneling in the quantum regime of Mn12 acetate

Longitudinal or transverse magnetic fields applied on a crystal of Mn12 acetate allows one to observe independent tunnel transitions between m = -S+p and m = S-n-p ( n = 6-10, p = 0-2 in longitudinal field and n = p = 0 in transverse field). We observe a smooth transition (in longitudinal) from coherent ground-state to thermally activated tunneling. Furthermore, two ground-state relaxation regimes show a crossover between quantum spin relaxation far from equilibrium and near equilibrium, when the environment destroys multimolecule correlations. Finally, we stress that the complete Hamiltonian of Mn12 should contain odd spin operators of low order.     

Quantum tunneling of ultracold atoms in optical traps

We review our theoretical advances in quantum tunneling of BoseEinstein condensates in optical traps and in microcavities. By employing a real physical system, the frequencies of the pseudo Goldstone modes in different phases between two optical traps are studied respectivdy, which are tile crucial feature of the non-Abelian Joseptmon effect. When the optical lattices are under gravity, we investigate the quantum tummling in the ＂Wannier-Stark localization＂ regime and ＂Lan（lau Zener tunneling＂ regime. We finally get the total decay rate and the rate is valid over the entire range of temperatures. At high temperatures, we show how the decay rate reduces to the appropriate results for the classical thermal activation. At hltermediate temperatures, the results of tile total decay rate are consistent with the thermally assisted tunneling. At low temperatures, we obtain the pure quantmn tunneling ultimately. And we study the alternating-current and direct-current （ac and de） photonic 3osephson effects in two weakly linked microcavities containing ultracold two-level atones, which allows for direct observation of the effects. This enables new investigations of the effect of maw-body physics in strongly coupled atom-cavity systems and provides a strategy for constructing novel interference devices of coherent photons. In addition, we propose the experimental protocols to observe these quantmn tunneling of Bose- Einstein condensates.     

双势阱中冷原子的关联隧穿

研究了在不同的相互作用和隧穿耦合强度比值情况下双势阱中冷原子的隧穿现象.两格点Bose-Hubbard模型不能完全解释实验.为此,对此模型做了高阶修正.取双势阱的基态和第一激发态作基矢,写出哈密顿量的表示,解释了用两格点Bose-Hubbard模型分析实验时参数不能定量符合的原因.另外,通过计算两阱中原子纠缠度的变化,结合三态上原子布居数分布,直观描述了整个隧穿过程.     

双势阱中冷原子的关联隧穿

研究了在不同的相互作用和隧穿耦合强度比值情况下双势阱中冷原子的隧穿现象.两格点Bose-Hubbard模型不能完全解释实验.为此,对此模型做了高阶修正.取双势阱的基态和第一激发态作基矢,写出哈密顿量的表示,解释了用两格点Bose-Hubbard模型分析实验时参数不能定量符合的原因.另外,通过计算两阱中原子纠缠度的变化,结合三态上原子布居数分布,直观描述了整个隧穿过程.