Rescattering Processes for Elliptical Polarization: A Quantum Trajectory Analysis

R. Kopold; D. B. Milošević; W. Becker

doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.84.3831

Rescattering Processes for Elliptical Polarization: A Quantum Trajectory Analysis

R. Kopold, D. B. Milošević, and W. Becker

Phys. Rev. Lett. 84, 3831 – Published 24 April 2000

Abstract

High-harmonic generation and high-order above-threshold ionization spectra calculated in the strong-field approximation are analyzed in terms of the complex space-time orbits that result from a saddle point analysis of the underlying integrals. For elliptical polarization, the plateaus of the spectra of high-harmonic generation and high-order above-threshold ionization each turn into a staircase of very similar appearance. Each step of the stair can be traced to a particular pair of orbits which are almost identical in both cases.

Received 22 September 1999

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.84.3831

Authors & Affiliations

R. Kopold, D. B. Milošević^*, and W. Becker^†

Max-Born-Institut, Max-Born-Strasse 2a, 12489 Berlin, Germany

^*Also at Faculty of Science and Mathematics, University of Sarajevo, 71000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
^†Also at Center for Advanced Studies, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131.