Predicting intense-field photoionization of atoms and molecules from their linear photoabsorption spectra in the ionization continuum

C. J.G.J. Uiterwaal; C. R. Gebhardt; H. Schröder; K.-L. Kompa

doi:10.1140/epjd/e2004-00102-7

2021 Impact factor 1.611

Atomic, Molecular, Optical and Plasma Physics

Eur. Phys. J. D 30, 379-392 (2004)
https://doi.org/10.1140/epjd/e2004-00102-7

Predicting intense-field photoionization of atoms and molecules from their linear photoabsorption spectra in the ionization continuum

C. J.G.J. Uiterwaal¹, C. R. Gebhardt², H. Schröder²^a and K.-L. Kompa²

¹ Department of Physics and Astronomy, The University of Nebraska - Lincoln, Behlen Lab - City Campus, Lincoln, NE 68588-0111, USA
² Max-Planck-Institut für Quantenoptik, Hans-Kopfermann-Straße 1, 85748 Garching, Germany

Corresponding author: ^a hms@mpq.mpg.de

Received: 8 October 2003
Revised: 20 January 2004
Published online: 17 August 2004

Abstract

We report a new approach to intense-field photoionization that is based on the ad hoc assumption that m photons of energy E_ph arriving within a typical electronic response time are effectively equivalent to a single photon of energy mE_ph. The heuristic model contains no adjustable parameters and unifies apparent multiphoton and field aspects. Moreover, nonsequential, suppressed and above-threshold ionization phenomena become readily understandable. Predicted ionization intensities are in satisfactory agreement with available experimental data ranging from C₆H₆ to Ne³⁺, from femtosecond to nanosecond laser pulses, and from ultraviolet to infrared laser radiation.

PACS: 32.80.Rm – Multiphoton ionization and excitation to highly excited states (e.g., Rydberg states) / 32.80.Wr – Other multiphoton processes / 42.50.Hz – Strong-field excitation of optical transitions in quantum systems; multiphoton processes; dynamic Stark shift

© EDP Sciences, Società Italiana di Fisica, Springer-Verlag, 2004