Fractal dynamics in the ionization of helium Rydberg atoms

We study the ionization of helium Rydberg atoms in an electric field above the classical ionization threshold within the semiclassical theory.By introducing a fractal approach to describe the chaotic dynamical behavior of the ionization,we identify the fractal self-similarity structure of the escape time versus the distribution of the initial launch angles of electrons,and find that the self-similarity region shifts toward larger initial launch angles with a decrease in the scaled energy.We connect the fractal structure of the escape time plot to the escape dynamics of ionized electrons.Of particular note is that the fractal dimensions are sensitively controlled by the scaled energy and magnetic field,and exhibit excellent agreement with the chaotic extent of the ionization systems for both helium and hydrogen Rydberg atoms.It is shown that,besides the electric and magnetic fields,core scattering is a primary factor in the fractal dynamics.     

Asymmetric angular distributions in two-frequency multiphoton ionization of hydrogen atoms

Summary We report on calculated angular distributions of electrons produced in the ionization of hydrogen atoms by a linearly polarized soft X-ray and a circularly polarized laser light, with both the electric fields vibrating on the same plane. Their shape exhibits asymmetries which are similar to those observed in multiphoton ionization of noble gases by singlefrequency elliptically polarized light. An explanation of these asymmetries is given in terms of lowering of symmetry caused by the simultaneous action of the two fields during the ionization of the atom. The case at hand is another example which allows a useful insight into a new class of physical situations which deserve to be further explored both experimentally and theoretically.

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Riassunto In questo lavoro si calcolano le distribuzioni angolari di elettroni prodotti nella ionizzazione di atomi di idrogeno da raggi X molli e da luce laser polarizzata circolarmente, i cui campi elettrici vibrano nello stesso punto piano. La loro forma mostra asimmetrie che sono simili a quelle osservate nella ionizzazione multifotonica di gas nobili prodotta da un laser polarizzato ellitticamente. La spiegazione di questa asimmetria è data in termini di riduzione di simmetria causata dalla simultanea azione dei due campi durante la ionizzazione dell'atomo. Il presente caso è un esempio di una nuova calsse di situazioni fisiche che meritano di essere esplorate sia sperimentalmente che teoricamente.

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Резюме Приводятся вычисленные угловые распределения электронов, образованных при ионизации водорода линейно поляризованным мягким рентгеновским излучением и диркулярно поляризованным лазерным излучением, причем оба электрических поля колеблются в той же плоскости. Форма распределения обнаруживает асимметрии, которые аналогичны асимметриям, обнаруженным при многофотонной ионизации инертных газов под действием монохроматического эллиптически поляризованного света. Предлагается объяяснение этих асимметрий в терминах понижения симметрии вследствие одновременного действия двух полей во время ионизации атома. Рассматривается другой пример, который позволяет правильно понять новый класс физических ситуаций, которые заслуживают дальнейшего теоретического и эксрериментального исследований.

     

Nondipole ionization dynamics of atoms in superintense high-frequency attosecond pulses

The ionization of H(1s) in superintense, high-frequency, attosecond pulses is studied beyond the dipole approximation. We identify a unique nondipole 3rd lobe in the angular distribution of the ejected electron and show that this lobe has a well-defined classical counterpart. The ionization is likely to occur in the direction opposite to the laser propagation direction, which is fully understood from an analysis of the classical dynamics.     

Emergence of classical orbits in few-cycle above-threshold ionization of atomic hydrogen

The time-dependent Schr?dinger equation for atomic hydrogen in few-cycle laser pulses is solved numerically. Introducing a positive definite quantum distribution function in energy-position space, a straightforward comparison of the numerical ab initio results with classical orbit theory is facilitated. Integration over position space yields directly the photoelectron spectra so that the various pathways contributing to a certain energy in the photoelectron spectra can be established in an unprecedented direct and transparent way.     

Electron-impact ionization cross-sections and ionization rate coefficients for atoms and ions from hydrogen to calcium

Using the empirical formula recently proposed, electron-impact ionization cross-sections for single ionization from the ground state are given for free atoms and for all ionization stages from hydrogen to calcium (Z=20). Ionization rate coefficients are given for these species on the assumption of a Maxwellian distribution of the impacting electrons. Multiple ionization, lowering of ionization potential, or collision limit are not taken into account.     

Positron-impact ionization of atoms: Experiments

This review covers the recent experimental results on positron-impact ionization as well as results which can be expected in the near future. Topics of other Workshop reviews such asPs formation andinner-shell ionization are not included here. Insingle ionization, interesting new developments are the comparison of positron/electron impact with proton/antiproton impact, cross-section measurements for atomic hydrogen, and threshold studies with H₂ and noble-gas atoms. Indouble and triple ionization, some level of completion has been reached; further work along this line is to be expected when improved energy resolution will permit studying multi-ionization threshold behavior. The above remarks concerntotal ionization cross sections, the only type measured so far. Two experiments onsingle-differential and one ondouble-differential cross sections are on the way.Triple-differential measurements would be very interesting, but are not yet feasible.     

Schwinger variational calculation of ionization of hydrogen atoms for large momentum transfers

Schwinger variational principle is used here to study large momentum transfer cases of electron and positron impact ionization of atomic hydrogen from the ground state at intermediate and moderately high energies. The results appear somewhat better compared to other theories.     

Chirp-dependent ionization of hydrogen atoms in the presence of super-intense laser pulses

We perform a theoretical study on dynamic interference in single photon ionization of ground state hydrogen atoms in the presence of a super-intense ultra-fast chirped laser pulse of different chirp types(equal-power and equal-FWHM laser pulses) by numerically solving the time-dependent Schr ¨odinger equation in one dimension. We investigate the influences of peak intensity and chirp parameters on the instantaneous ionization rate and photoelectron yield, respectively. We also compare the photoelectron energy spectra for the ionization by the laser pulses with different chirp types. We find that the difference between the instantaneous ionization rates for the ionization of hydrogen atom driven by two different chirped laser pulses is originated from the difference in variation of vector potentials with time.     

Energy spectrum of ejected electrons in ionization of hydrogen atoms by electrons

Energy spectrum of ejected electrons in ionization of hydrogen atoms has been calculated following a multiple scattering theory of Das and Seal [15]. The results show peaks around two to three Rydbergs of energies of the ejected electrons, for incident electron energy of 250 eV and 500 eV, considered here, and for different combinations of the angular variables of the scattered and the ejected electrons, for scattering in a plane. The peaks are very similar to those observed in relativistic K-shell ionization of Ag atoms by electrons at 500 KeV energy [6]. The physical origin of these peaks may be traced to the second order scatterings, scattering first by the atomic nucleus (or the atomic electron) and then a second time by the atomic electron. These peaks are, however, absent in the first Born results. Experimental verification of the present results and theoretical calculation by some other well-known methods will be interesting.     

电场中Eu原子电离阈移动的实验研究

提出了一种新方法, 精确确定了稀土Eu原子第一电离阈的位置. 先用脉冲电场对Eu原子的高激发Rydberg态进行延时场电离探测, 再通过反向静电场排除光电离和自电离等其他路径所产生的离子信号的干扰, 观察并研究了Eu原子第一电离阈随着电场移动的规律. 由此所确定的零场下第一电离阈的数值与采用其他方法所确定的文献值^{[1, 2]}相一致, 从而验证了该方法的可靠性.     

Detection of hydrogen isotope atoms by mass spectrometry combined with resonant ionization

We examined the application of mass spectrometric methods using resonant ionization by a tunable laser and proposed its use for analyzing hydrogen isotopes. We conducted resonance ionization mass spectrometry (RIMS) to detect gas-phase hydrogen isotope atoms. The ionization efficiency was increased by more than 1000 times that obtained with conventional methods using nonresonant ionization. Resonant laser ablation mass spectrometry (RLAMS) was applied for deuterium detection in solid samples. A graphite substrate implanted with deuterium was used for ordinary laser ablation mass spectrometry (LAMS) and RLAMS. The deuterium signal was observed very clearly by RLAMS, in contrast to LAMS. Mass spectrometry combined with resonance ionization was very useful for hydrogen isotope detection, because components with equal mass numbers were resolved and the method demonstrated higher ionization efficiency. Received: 4 November 1998 / Revised version: 12 January 1999 / Published online: 7 April 1999     

Chemical ionization of hydrogen halide molecules in collision with metastable helium atoms

An anomaly of the temperature dependence of the cross section for chemical ionization of HBr molecules by metastable helium atoms He*(2³ S ₁) is discovered. It is shown that the interaction anisotropy induced by rotation of the HBr molecule has a significant influence on the formation of the anomaly. Zh. Tekh. Fiz. 68, 13–15 (February 1998)     

Semiclassical calculation of ionization rate for Rydberg hydrogen atoms near a metal surface

The ionization of Rydberg hydrogen atoms near a metal surface at different scaled energies above the classical saddle point energy has been discussed by using the semiclassical method. The results show that the atoms ionize by emitting a train of electron pulses. In order to reveal the chaotic and escape dynamical properties of this system in detail, the sensitive dependence of the ionization rate upon the scaled energy is discussed. As the scaled energy is close to the saddle point energy, the ionization process of the hydrogen atom is nearly the same as the case of hydrogen atom in an electric field. There is only a single pulse of electrons, with an exponentially decaying tail. With the increase of the scaled energy, the ionization rates are similar to the case of the hydrogen atom in parallel electric and magnetic field, a series of electron pulses appear in the ionization process. This is caused by classical chaos, which occurs for the metal surface. Our studies also suggest that the metal surface can play the role of both the electric and the magnetic fields. Our theoretical analysis will be useful for guiding experimental studies of the ionization of atoms near the metal surface.