Classical Effects of Carrier--Envelope Phase on Nonsequential Double Ionization

A classical microcanonical 1＋1-dimensional model is used to investigate the ion momentum distributions in nonsequential double ionization with linearly polarized few-cycle pulses. We find that the ion momentum distribution has a strong dependence on the carrier-envelope phase of the few-cycle pulse, which is consistent with the experimental results qualitatively. Back analysis shows that the ionization probability of the first electron at different phases and its returning kinetic energy play the main role on the ion momentum distributions.     

Nonsequential double ionization with few-cycle laser pulses

We investigate differential electron momentum distributions in nonsequential double ionization with linearly polarized, few-cycle pulses, using a classical model based on a laser-assisted inelastic (e(-),2e(-)) rescattering mechanism. These yields, as functions of the momentum components parallel to the laser polarization, are highly asymmetric and strongly influenced by the phase difference between the pulse envelope and its carrier oscillation, radically changing their sign around a critical phase. This behavior provides a powerful tool for absolute-phase measurements.     

Correlated two-electron momentum spectra for strong-field nonsequential double ionization of He at 800 nm

We report on a kinematically complete experiment on nonsequential double ionization of He by 25 fs 800 nm laser pulses at 1.5 PW/cm;{2}. The suppression of the recollision-induced excitation at this high intensity allows us to address in a clean way direct (e,2e) ionization by the recolliding electron. In contrast with earlier experimental results, but in agreement with various theoretical predictions, the two-electron momentum distributions along the laser polarization axis exhibit a pronounced V-shaped structure, which can be explained by the role of Coulomb repulsion and typical (e,2e) kinematics.     

Evidence of potential change in nonsequential double ionization

Recently,the quantitative rescattering model(QRS)for nonsequential double ionization(NSDI)is modified by taking into account the potential change(PC)due to the presence of electric field at the time of recollision.Using the improved QRS model,we simulate the longitudinal momentum distributions of doubly charged ions He2+by projecting the correlated two-electron momentum distributions for NSDI of He onto the main diagonal.The obtained results are compared directly with the experimental data at different intensities.It is found that when the PC is considered,the width of momentum distributions reduces and the agreement between theory and experiment is improved.     

Recoil-ion momentum distributions for two-photon double ionization of He and Ne by 44 eV free-electron laser radiation

Recoil-ion momentum distributions for two-photon double ionization of He and Ne (variant Planck's over omega=44 eV) have been recorded with a reaction microscope at FLASH (the free-electron laser at Hamburg) at an intensity of approximately 1 x 10(14) W/cm2 exploring the dynamics of the two fundamental two-photon-two-electron reaction pathways, namely, sequential and direct (or nonsequential) absorption of the photons. We find strong differences in the recoil-ion momentum patterns for the two mechanisms pointing to the significantly different two-electron emission dynamics and thus provide serious constraints for theoretical models.     

Interpretation of momentum distribution of recoil ions from laser induced nonsequential double ionization

We show that the recently reported momentum distribution of recoil ions from laser induced nonsequential double ionization can be interpreted as a combined effect of interelectron correlation and final state field interaction ("Volkov dressing") of the two outgoing electrons. We also find a cutoff formula for the recoil momentum that gives the maximum momenta observed in the experiments.     

周期量级激光脉冲驱动下非次序双电离的三维经典系综模拟

利用三维经典系综模型研究了周期量级激光脉冲驱动的氩原子非次序双电离,所得结果表明,Ar2+离子的纵向动量分布与载波包络相位有很强的依赖关系,随载波包络相位φ的增加,具有不对称双峰结构的离子纵向动量分布重心从负动量转移到正动量,并且φ每改变π时Ar2+离子的纵向动量呈现相反的分布.在重碰撞过程中核与电子之间的库仑势发生变化后,计算得到的Ar2+离子纵向动量分布随载波包络相位的变化与实验结果定量上一致.     

Influence of molecular structure on double ionization of N2 and O2 by high intensity ultrashort laser pulses

The electron momentum correlation after nonsequential double ionization of N2 and O2 in ultrashort light pulses at light intensities near 1.5 x 10(14) W/cm(2) has been investigated. The experimental results reveal distinctive differences between the molecular species and between molecules and atoms of similar ionization threshold. We provide evidence that recollision double ionization is the essential mechanism and trace the origin of the differences back to the symmetry of the orbitals occupied by the valence electrons.     

Effect of elliptical polarizations on nonsequential double ionization in two-color elliptically polarized laser fields

Using the classical ensemble model, we investigate the nonsequential double ionization(NSDI) of Ar and Mg in the two-color elliptically polarized laser pulse for different elliptical polarizations. Numerical results show that for Ar atoms the NSDI yield increases as the ellipticity increases, which is different from the case of Mg atoms. Moreover, the correlated behavior in the correlated electron momentum along the x direction and ion momentum distributions of Ar atoms are influenced by the ellipticity. By statistical analysis of different times, we can conclude that the ellipticity may be responsible for the NSDI processes. The correlated momenta distributions along the x direction at the recollision time are demonstrated and the results show that the travelling time and ellipticity can affect the emitted directions of both electrons.     

Role of Nuclear Coulomb Attraction in Nonsequential Double Ionization of Argon Atom

The microscopic recollision dynamics in strong-field nonsequential double ionization of Ar atoms is investigated using three-dimensional classical ensembles. By adjusting the nuclear Coulomb potential, we can excellently reproduce the experimental results both within the laser intensity
regimes well above the recollision threshold and well below the recollision threshold quantitatively. More importantly, our trajectory analysis clearly reveals the particular electronic dynamics in recollision process: the momentum of the recolliding electron encounters a sudden change both in magnitude and in
direction when it approaches the nucleus closely, which show that the nuclear Coulomb attraction plays a key role in the recollision process of nonsequential double ionization of Ar atoms.     

Binary and recoil collisions in strong field double ionization of helium

We have investigated the correlated momentum distribution of both electrons from nonsequential double ionization of helium in a 800 nm, 4.5 x 10(14 W/cm2 laser field. Using very high resolution coincidence techniques, we find a so-far unobserved fingerlike structure in the correlated electron momentum distribution. The structure can be interpreted as a signature of the microscopic dynamics in the recollision process. We identify features corresponding to the binary and recoil lobe in field-free (e,2e) collisions. This interpretation is supported by analyzing ab initio solutions of a fully correlated three-dimensional helium model.     

Nonsequential double ionization of the aligned hydrogen molecule in strong field

This paper studies the nonsequential double ionization(NSDI) process of diatomic molecules aligned parallel and perpendicular to an intense linearly polarized laser field by using a three-dimensional semiclassical model.With this model,it achieves insight into the ion momentum distribution under the combined influence of a two-centre Coulomb potential and an intense laser field,and this result shows the significant influence of molecular alignment on the ratio between double and single ionization rate.Careful investigations show that the NSDI process for different alignment molecules has a close relation to the laser intensity and the different bounding electron distribution has a significant influence on the final ion momentum distribution.     

Slow-down collisions and nonsequential double ionization in classical simulations

We use classical simulations to analyze the dynamics of nonsequential double-electron short-pulse photoionization. We utilize a microcanonical ensemble of 10(5) two-electron "trajectories," a number large enough to provide large subensembles and even sub-subensembles associated with double ionization. We focus on key events in the final doubly ionized subensemble and back-analyze the subensemble's history, revealing a classical slow-down scenario for nonsequential double ionization. We analyze the dynamics of these slow-down collisions and find that a good phase match between the motions of the electrons can lead to very effective energy transfer, followed by escape over a suppressed barrier.     

Transition from strong-field sequential to nonsequential double ionization at near-infrared wavelengths and low intensities

Within a quantum-mechanical model, we investigate strong-field double ionization of a model helium atom by near-infrared, linearly polarized laser pulses at intensities far below the recollision threshold. The quantum simulations show a clear mechanism change from sequential to nonsequential double ionization (NSDI) as the laser intensity increases. For NSDI, the two-electron correlated momentum distribution exhibits a strong final-state Coulomb repulsion effect for high-energy photoelectrons, but absent for low-energy photoelectrons. This repulsion effect is ascribed to field double ionization from doubly-excited states populated by recollision of the first ionized electron when it returns to the parent ion. Such recollision-induced excited states are absent at ultraviolet wavelengths due to the very low returning kinetic energies, resulting to the absence of final-state repulsion effect in NSDI.     

Nonsequential two-photon double ionization of atoms: identifying the mechanism

We develop an approximate model for the process of direct (nonsequential) two-photon double ionization of atoms. Employing the model, we calculate (generalized) total cross sections as well as energy-resolved differential cross sections of helium for photon energies ranging from 39 to 54 eV. A comparison with results of ab initio calculations reveals that the agreement is at a quantitative level. We thus demonstrate that this complex ionization process can be described by the simple model, providing insight into the underlying physical mechanism. Finally, we use the model to calculate generalized cross sections for the two-photon double ionization of neon in the nonsequential regime.     

Time-resolved quantum dynamics of double ionization in strong laser fields

Quantum calculations of a (1+1)-dimensional model for double ionization in strong laser fields are used to trace the time evolution from the ground state through ionization and rescattering to the two-electron escape. The subspace of symmetric escape, a prime characteristic of nonsequential double ionization, remains accessible by a judicious choice of 1D coordinates for the electrons. The time-resolved ionization fluxes show the onset of single and double ionization, the sequence of events during the pulse, and the influences of pulse duration and reveal the relative importance of sequential and nonsequential double ionization, even when ionization takes place during the same field cycle.     

Laser-induced recollision phenomena: interference resonances at channel closings

An analytical theory of the resonancelike phenomena in high-order above-threshold ionization is presented that explains details of the experimental spectra and theoretical simulations. It traces the observed features to the constructive interference of "quantum orbits" with long travel times at laser intensities where the N-photon ionization channels close. Characteristic differences show up between even and odd N. The effects are generic to all laser-induced recollision phenomena. For nonsequential double ionization, their signature in the momentum distribution of the final electrons is identified.     

Momentum distributions of ne(n+) ions created by an intense ultrashort laser pulse

Vector momentum distributions of Ne(n+) (n = 1,2,3) ions created by 30 fs, approximately 1 PW/cm(2) laser pulses at 795 nm have been measured using recoil-ion momentum spectroscopy. Distinct maxima along the light polarization axis are observed at 4.0 and 7.5 a.u. for Ne2+ and Ne3+ production, respectively. Hence, mechanisms based on an instantaneous release of two (or more) electrons can be ruled out as a dominant contribution to nonsequential strong-field multiple ionization. The positions of the maxima are in accord with kinematical constraints set by the classical "rescattering model."     

氦原子非次序双电离对正交双色场强度比的依赖关系

利用经典系综模型研究了正交双色场中氦原子非次序双电离对双色场强度比的依赖关系.研究表明, 该依赖关系与双色场相对相位φ 有关. φ =0.25π 时,沿长波长激光偏振方向的相关动量谱随强度比的增大从相关模式转变为反相关模式. φ =0.35π, 0.45π 时,相关动量主要分布在第一和第三象限,相关模式几乎不随强度比的变化而变化.对双电离轨迹碰撞时间、碰撞角、碰撞动量的向后分析可以解释上述结果,并显示了正交双色场对非次序双电离中碰撞时间、碰撞角的控制作用.     

Few-photon multiple ionization of ne and ar by strong free-electron-laser pulses

Few-photon multiple ionization of Ne and Ar atoms by strong vacuum ultraviolet laser pulses from the free-electron laser at Hamburg was investigated differentially with the Heidelberg reaction microscope. The light-intensity dependence of Ne2+ production reveals the dominance of nonsequential two-photon double ionization at intensities of I<6x10(12) W/cm2 and significant contributions of three-photon ionization as I increases. Ne2+ recoil-ion-momentum distributions suggest that two electrons absorbing "instantaneously" two photons are ejected most likely into opposite hemispheres with similar energies.