Abstract
A method is proposed for the calculation of the matrix for many-electron processes in intense-laser atom physics, in close analogy to the strong-field approximation for one-electron processes. Given a scenario of how some process evolves, corresponding approximations to the classical action are made which allow for the evaluation of the quantum-mechanical matrix. The method is applied to the distribution of the total electronic momentum in nonsequential double ionization, and the results are compared to recent measurements. Good agreement is obtained for neon for a rescattering scenario. There is no comparable agreement for helium and argon, and possible alternative scenarios are discussed.
- Received 17 February 2000
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.85.3781
©2000 American Physical Society