Open AccessNonadiabatic tunnel ionization in strong circularly polarized laser fields: counterintuitive angular shifts in the photoelectron momentum distribution
Author(s) -
Yang Li,
Pengfei Lan,
Huaqing Xie,
Mingrui He,
Zhu Xiao,
Qingbin Zhang,
Peixiang Lu
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.23.028801
Subject(s) - physics , angular momentum , laser , atomic physics , angular momentum of light , polarization (electrochemistry) , ionization , azimuthal quantum number , orbital angular momentum of light , total angular momentum quantum number , angular momentum coupling , optics , quantum mechanics , chemistry , ion
We perform time-dependent calculation of strong-field ionization of neon, initially prepared in 2p(-1) and 2p(+1) states, with intense near-circularly polarized laser pulses. By solving the three-dimensional time-dependent Schrödinger equation, we find clear different offset angles of the maximum in the photoelectron momentum distribution in the polarization plane of the laser pulses for the two states. We provide clear interpretation that this different angular offset is linked to the sign of the magnetic quantum number, thus it can be used to map out the orbital angular momentum of the initial state. Our results provide a potential tool for studying orbital symmetry in atomic and molecular systems.