Electron Shell Ionization with Classical, Relativistic Scattering by Ultrastrong Fields: the Single Atom Response

ORAL

Abstract

We investigate the forward scattering of ionization from neon, argon, and xenon in ultrahigh intensities of 2 $\times$ 10$^{\mathrm{19}}$ W/cm$^{\mathrm{2}}$. Comparisons between the gases reveal the energy of the outgoing photoelectron determines its momentum, which can be scattered as far forward as 45 degrees from the laser wavevector for energies greater than 1 MeV. The shell structure in the atom manifests itself as modulations in the photoelectron yield and the width of the angular distributions. We arrive at an agreeable comparison with theory using an independent electron model for the atom, dipole approximation for the bound state interaction and a relativistic, three-dimensional, classical radiation field including the laser magnetic field for continuum dynamics. The studies presented here are at the highest intensity yet observed in single atom studies. This work is supported by the Army Research Office under Award No. W911NF-09-1-0390 and National Science Foundation under Award No. 0757953. MFD acknowledges support from the DOE-EPSCoR grant DE-FG02-11ER46816.

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Authors

  • Nagitha Ekanayake

    • University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware 19716, USA

  • Sui Luo

    • University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware 19716, USA

  • Patrick Grugan

    • University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware 19716, USA

  • Willow Crosby

    • University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware 19716, USA

  • Arielle Camilo

    • University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware 19716, USA

  • Caitlin McCowan

    • University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware 19716, USA

  • Rosie Scalzi

    • University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware 19716, USA

  • Anthony Tramontozzi

    • University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware 19716, USA

  • Lauren Howard

    • University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware 19716, USA

  • Sarah Wells

    • University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware 19716, USA

  • Chris Mancuso

    • University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware 19716, USA

  • Teddy Stanev

    • University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware 19716, USA

  • Matthew Decamp

    • University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware 19716, USA

  • Barry Walker

    • University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware 19716, USA