Photoelectron spectroscopy of above-threshold ionization of xenon with circularly and linearly polarized light

Above-threshold multiphoton ionization (photon energy 1.17 eV and 2.33 eV) of xenon was studied with circularly and linearly polarized light. Pronounced differences in shape have been observed for photoelectron spectra taken with linearly and circularly polarized light. With circularly polarized light a strong suppression of low-energy electrons was observed; the total electron yield was reduced by factors of approximately 4 (photon energy 2.33 eV) and, depending on the laser intensity, between 13 and 80 (photon energy 1.17 eV).