Abstract

Recent experimental studies^1–6 of the multiple ionization of atoms generated by the collision-free interaction of intense (~ 10¹⁵ W/cm²) electromagnetic fields have shown that this class of processes exhibits several anomalous features. All of the previous work pertinent to this discussion has been conducted at a few specific wavelengths in the range between 193 nm and 10.6 µm with pulse lengths of ~ 5 ps duration or longer. Since the dynamics of the electron ejection from the atom can⁷ involve a time scale significantly shorter than ~ 5 ps, it is expected⁶ that the examination of the nonlinear coupling with intense ultraviolet radiation in the subpicosecond domain will reveal significantly modified behavior.

© 1986 Optical Society of America