Abstract

Over the last few years, strong-field physics has advanced to a state that quantitative tests of theoretical models are now possible experimentally[1-3]. This is particularly important to identify the universality of all strong-field effects, such as above-threshold ionization (ATI), high optical harmonic generation (OHG), and multiple ionization. In this talk, we will report on the progress of high sensitivity electron and ion measurements in the high field limit on inert gas atoms and helium. The experiments are performed with kilohertz laser systems operating at 1 μm and 0.78 μm with 50 ps and 0.1 ps pulse durations, respectively and extend from 10^12–16 W/cm². Thus, the studies are capable of examining the full dynamic range of field interactions from multiphoton to tunnel ionization. Critical comparison to both time-dependent quantum mechanical calculations using a single electron approximation (SAE) and quasi-classical models provide interesting insights into the underlying physics.

© 1994 Optical Society of America