Field ionization of Rydberg atoms in a single-cycle pulse

Yang, B. C.; Robicheaux, F.

doi:10.1103/PhysRevA.91.043407

Field ionization of Rydberg atoms in a single-cycle pulse

Journal Article · Mon Apr 13 00:00:00 EDT 2015 · Physical Review A - Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.91.043407· OSTI ID:2569820

Yang, B. C. ^[1]; Robicheaux, F. ^[1]

Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN (United States)

Here, we study the ionization of Rydberg atoms in a single-cycle-pulse electric field based on both classical and quantum calculations. The ionization-probability curve exhibits a “ripple” structure as a function of the pulse duration and the field amplitude. These ripple structures are found to be dependent on the angular distribution of the initial state. A large electron-emission asymmetry is observed, and the ionized electron is almost completely emitted to one side of the atom except when the pulse length is roughly one Rydberg period. In both the long-pulse and the short-pulse regimes, larger electron energy can be expected from the ionization of lower-lying Rydberg states, matching the observation in a recent experiment [S. Li and R. R. Jones, Phys. Rev. Lett. 112, 143006 (2014)]. This trend is closely related to the electron-emission asymmetry associated with the field-direction change in a single-cycle pulse. The possible implications of the different energy transfer in a single-cycle pulse from that in a multicycle pulse are also discussed briefly for the strong-field ionization of the ground atomic state.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE; USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES)

Grant/Contract Number:: SC0012193

OSTI ID:: 2569820

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 1181045

Journal Information:: Physical Review A - Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics, Journal Name: Physical Review A - Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics Journal Issue: 4 Vol. 91; ISSN 1094-1622; ISSN 1050-2947

Publisher:: American Physical Society (APS)Copyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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