Abstract

We have measured angular distributions of the electrons produced in above threshold ionization of xenon by 100 psec 1.06 μm and .532 μm laser pulses. We find that the electrons are generally emitted along the polarization direction for linearly polarized light. However, the angular distributions differ for electrons emitted with different kinetic energies, corresponding to different numbers of photons absorbed in the photoemission process. Furthermore, for a given electron energy, the angular distribution is dependent on laser intensity. We have also measured the intensity dependence of electrons photoemitted by circularly polarized light. Results are discussed in terms of atomic theory and ponderomotive potential scattering.

© 1986 Optical Society of America