dc Field-Induced, Phase and Polarization Control of Interference between One- and Two-Photon Ionization Amplitudes

Authors

N. L. Manakov, Voronezh State UniversityFollow
V.D. Osiannikov, Voronezh State University, Voronezh, Russia
Anthony F. Starace, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow

Date of this Version

6-14-1999

Comments

Published by American Physical Society. Phys. Rev. Letters 82, 4791 (1999). http://prl.aps.org. Copyright © 1999 American Physical Society. Permission to use.

Abstract

We demonstrate that a weak, static electric field enables nearly complete coherent phase control of the total ionization yield in a two-color ionization process using fundamental and second-harmonic radiation. The static electric field induces a dipole-forbidden resonance in the two-photon transition amplitude so that the final photoelectron states are identical to those in a single photon transition. We demonstrate also a phase controllable circular dichroism effect in the total photoelectron yield. Experimental realization of this process using alkali metal atoms is discussed.