Quantum origin of plateau structures in strong laser-atom processes

ORAL

Abstract

The characteristic plateau structures in the high-energy spectra of strong laser-atom phenomena (such as ATI and HHG) are shown to originate from the properties of the exact wave function of an initially bound electron subjected to a strong monochromatic laser field of frequency $\omega$. Using time-dependent effective range theory [1], we obtain the spatial dependence of the Fourier-harmonic components (for frequencies $n\omega$) of the quasistationary, quasienergy state (QQES) corresponding to the initial bound state. This dependence reveals a remarkable plateau-like behavior over spatial distances up to the amplitude of free-electron oscillations in the laser field. This behavior is typical for Fourier-harmonics with energies $n\hbar\omega$ up to 3.17$U_{p}$ (where $U_{p}$ is the ponderomotive energy). Our numerical analysis of ATI and HHG spectra demonstrates that the high-energy plateaus in these spectra (which have been interpreted in terms of the semiclassical rescattering scenario) originate from the above-mentioned plateau features of the Fourier-harmonics of the QQES wave function. [1] M.V. Frolov et al., \textit{Phys. Rev. Lett.} \textbf{91}, 053003 (2003).

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Authors

  • Student Workshop

    Physics, Stony Brook University, NY 11794-3800 USA, Physics Department, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI, 49008, USA, Advanced Light Source, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA, R. Bo\v{s}kovi\'{c} Institute, Zagreb, Croatia, Bose Institute, Kolkata, India, U. Wisconsin, Argonne National Laboratory, U. Kentucky, Kansas State University, Rice University, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, University of Tennessee, Vienna University of Technology, University of Tennessee, Vienna University of Technology, University of North Alabama, Florence, AL, University of Connecticut, LANL, Auburn University, Voronezh State University, Russia, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Rollins College, ATOMKI, Debrecen, GANIL, Caen, Stony Brook University, NY 11794-3800 USA, Hefei National Lab \& Dept of Chemical physics, Univ of Sci \& Tech of China, Dept of Earth \& Environ Sci, Univ of Illinois at Chicago, EFI \& Dept of Geophys. Sci., UofC, Chem Div, ANL, Phys Div, ANL, Phys Div, Argonne National Lab (ANL) \& Enrico Fermi Institute (EFI), Univ of Chicago (UofC), Department of Physics, University of Turku, 20014 Turku, Finland, Clarendon Laboratory, Oxford, SNL, Univ. Paris Sud, Orsay

  • Student Workshop

    Physics, Stony Brook University, NY 11794-3800 USA, Physics Department, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI, 49008, USA, Advanced Light Source, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA, R. Bo\v{s}kovi\'{c} Institute, Zagreb, Croatia, Bose Institute, Kolkata, India, U. Wisconsin, Argonne National Laboratory, U. Kentucky, Kansas State University, Rice University, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, University of Tennessee, Vienna University of Technology, University of Tennessee, Vienna University of Technology, University of North Alabama, Florence, AL, University of Connecticut, LANL, Auburn University, Voronezh State University, Russia, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Rollins College, ATOMKI, Debrecen, GANIL, Caen, Stony Brook University, NY 11794-3800 USA, Hefei National Lab \& Dept of Chemical physics, Univ of Sci \& Tech of China, Dept of Earth \& Environ Sci, Univ of Illinois at Chicago, EFI \& Dept of Geophys. Sci., UofC, Chem Div, ANL, Phys Div, ANL, Phys Div, Argonne National Lab (ANL) \& Enrico Fermi Institute (EFI), Univ of Chicago (UofC), Department of Physics, University of Turku, 20014 Turku, Finland, Clarendon Laboratory, Oxford, SNL, Univ. Paris Sud, Orsay

  • Student Workshop

    Physics, Stony Brook University, NY 11794-3800 USA, Physics Department, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI, 49008, USA, Advanced Light Source, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA, R. Bo\v{s}kovi\'{c} Institute, Zagreb, Croatia, Bose Institute, Kolkata, India, U. Wisconsin, Argonne National Laboratory, U. Kentucky, Kansas State University, Rice University, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, University of Tennessee, Vienna University of Technology, University of Tennessee, Vienna University of Technology, University of North Alabama, Florence, AL, University of Connecticut, LANL, Auburn University, Voronezh State University, Russia, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Rollins College, ATOMKI, Debrecen, GANIL, Caen, Stony Brook University, NY 11794-3800 USA, Hefei National Lab \& Dept of Chemical physics, Univ of Sci \& Tech of China, Dept of Earth \& Environ Sci, Univ of Illinois at Chicago, EFI \& Dept of Geophys. Sci., UofC, Chem Div, ANL, Phys Div, ANL, Phys Div, Argonne National Lab (ANL) \& Enrico Fermi Institute (EFI), Univ of Chicago (UofC), Department of Physics, University of Turku, 20014 Turku, Finland, Clarendon Laboratory, Oxford, SNL, Univ. Paris Sud, Orsay

  • Anthony F. Starace

    The University of Nebraska-Lincoln