Above-Threshold Ionization by an Elliptically Polarized Field: Interplay between Electronic Quantum Trajectories

G. G. Paulus; F. Grasbon; A. Dreischuh; H. Walther; R. Kopold; W. Becker

doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.84.3791

Above-Threshold Ionization by an Elliptically Polarized Field: Interplay between Electronic Quantum Trajectories

G. G. Paulus, F. Grasbon, A. Dreischuh, H. Walther, R. Kopold, and W. Becker

Phys. Rev. Lett. 84, 3791 – Published 24 April 2000

Abstract

Measurements of energy-resolved angular distributions of electrons generated in above-threshold ionization of rare gases in a field with elliptical polarization are presented, with emphasis on the high-energy part of the spectra. The data show a second plateau at a specific angle with respect to the large component of the laser field. The results are compared to a calculation based on a strong-field rescattering approximation. This is interpreted in terms of the superposition of quantum trajectories. The second plateau is associated with the interference of electrons that do and that do not rescatter.

Received 9 December 1999

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.84.3791

Authors & Affiliations

G. G. Paulus, F. Grasbon, A. Dreischuh^*, and H. Walther^†

Max-Planck-Institut für Quantenoptik, 85748 Garching, Germany

R. Kopold and W. Becker^‡

Max-Born-Institut, 12489 Berlin, Germany

^*Permanent address: Sofia University, Dept. of Quant. Elect., 5 J. Bourchier Blvd., BG-1164 Sofia, Bulgaria.
^†Also at Sektion Physik der Ludwig-Maximilians-Univ. München, Am Coulombwall 1, 85747 Garching, Germany.
^‡Also at Center for Advanced Studies, Dept. of Phys. and Astr., Univ. of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131.