An analytical quantum model for intense field processes: Quantum origin of rescattering plateaus

Authors

M. V. Frolov, Voronezh State University
A. A. Khuskivadze, University of Nebraska - Lincoln
N. L. Manakov, Voronezh State UniversityFollow
Anthony F. Starace, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow

Date of this Version

6-22-2006

Comments

Published in Journal of Physics B: Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics 39 (2006), pp. S283–S305; doi 10.1088/0953-4075/39/13/S04 Copyright © 2006 IOP Publishing Ltd . Used by permission. Online at http://stacks.iop.org/JPhysB/39/S283

Abstract

After a brief comparison of two basic quantum approaches for the analytic treatment of strong laser field phenomena, we analyze the spatial and temporal dependences of the quasistationary, quasienergy state wavefunction Φ_ε(r,t) of a weakly bound level in a strong laser field. We find from this analysis that the characteristic high-energy plateau structures in the spectra of laser– atom processes originate from similar plateau features in the spectra of the Fourier-harmonic components, Φ_n(r), of Φ_ε(r,t). Together with a quantum interpretation of the well-known rescattering scenario in terms of these wavefunctions, the results of this analysis provide an explanation for the drastic difference between HHG and ATI/ATD in the sensitivity of plateau structures to binding potential effects.