On the mechanism of strong-field double photoionization in the helium atom

M. Lein*, E. K.U. Gross, V. Engel

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

33 Scopus citations

Abstract

We perform time-dependent quantum calculations on the ionization dynamics of helium in intense ultrashort laser fields. A linear model of the atom is used to extract single- and double-ionization yields for a 780 nm excitation. For an intensity of 1015 W cm-2 clear evidence is found for a direct double-ionization process which is caused by rescattering of an electron from the core in the presence of the field. A momentum-space analysis of the wavefunctions shows that in this case both electrons are preferentially emitted in the same direction and with different momenta.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)433-442
Number of pages10
JournalJournal of Physics B: Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics
Volume33
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - 14 Feb 2000
Externally publishedYes

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