Comment on “Test of the Stark-effect theory using photoionization microscopy”

Journal Article · Wed Jun 03 00:00:00 EDT 2015 · Physical Review A - Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.91.067401· OSTI ID:2569818

Giannakeas, P. ^[1]; Robicheaux, F. ^[1]; Greene, Chris H. ^[1]

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1. Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN (United States)

An article by Zhao et al. [Phys. Rev. A 86, 053413 (2012)] tests the local frame transformation (LFT) theory by comparing it with benchmark coupled-channel calculations. The system under consideration is an alkali-metal atom that is two-photon ionized in the presence of a static external electric field. Zhao et al. state that the differential cross sections computed in the LFT theory disagree with their supposedly more accurate coupled-channel calculations. They went on to diagnose the discrepancy and claimed that it originates in an inaccurate correspondence between the irregular functions in spherical and parabolic-cylindrical coordinates, a correspondence that lies at the heart of LFT theory. We have repeated the same tests and find that our calculations rule out the discrepancies that were claimed in Zhao et al. [Phys. Rev. A 86, 053413 (2012)] to exist between the LFT approximation and the exact calculations. Lastly, this Comment thus helps to clarify the accuracy of the Harmin-Fano theory and demonstrates that it is in fact remarkably accurate not only for the total photoionization cross section in the Stark effect, but also for the differential cross section in photoionization microscopy.

• Research Organization: Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES)
• Grant/Contract Number: SC0012193; SC0010545
• OSTI ID: 2569818
• Alternate ID(s): OSTI ID: 1183783
• Journal Information: Physical Review A - Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics, Journal Name: Physical Review A - Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics Journal Issue: 6 Vol. 91; ISSN 1094-1622; ISSN 1050-2947
• Publisher: American Physical Society (APS)
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS