Converged three-dimensional calculations of above-threshold ionization: Angular-momentum constraints and the kinetic-energy distribution

Journal Article · Sat Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1994 · Physical Review A; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.50.3234· OSTI ID:6952947

Blank, R A; Shapiro, M ^[1]

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1. Chemical Physics Department, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100 (Israel)

We present an application of the artificial-channel method to the calculation of multiphoton ionization rates under continuous-wave illumination conditions. We use the method to treat above-threshold ionization (ATI) of hydrogen in three dimensions with linearly and circularly polarized light at field intensities ranging from 10[sup 9] to 10[sup 14] W/cm[sup 2]. The results are compared with perturbative as well as nonperturbative calculations for short pulses and with experiments. The range of validity of the dipole approximation for ATI processes is also examined. An analysis of both the angular and angular-momentum distribution of the photoelectrons at different intensities is presented. We find that ATI cross sections for circularly polarized light at 532 nm are three orders of magnitude weaker, with electronic kinetic energies peaking at higher values, than in the case of linearly polarized light. This last effect is shown to result from the different ponderomotive potential experienced by the electron, due to the drastically different angular distributions computed for the two cases. Connection is made between the angular distributions, and the angular-momentum constraints affecting it, and the kinetic energy of the ensuing electrons. It is argued that it is difficult to understand the ATI process without taking the three-dimensional aspects of the problem into consideration.

• OSTI ID: 6952947
• Journal Information: Physical Review A; (United States), Journal Name: Physical Review A; (United States) Vol. 50:4; ISSN 1050-2947; ISSN PLRAAN
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

664200* -- Spectra of Atoms & Molecules & their Interactions with Photons-- (1992-)
74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS
ANGULAR MOMENTUM
ELEMENTS
ENERGY
ENERGY SPECTRA
HYDROGEN
IONIZATION
KINETIC ENERGY
MULTI-PHOTON PROCESSES
NONMETALS
PHOTOIONIZATION
SPECTRA
THREE-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS
THRESHOLD ENERGY