Detachment of a bound electron by an electric field pulse whose duration ranges from a fraction to a few times the optical cycle but is long compared to ħ/I (ħ — Planck constant, I — binding energy) is studied theoretically, simulating the ionization of atoms by extremely short laser pulses. Because of the strong nonlinearity, the solution of the problem does not reduce to the sum of monochromatic harmonic contributions and depends significantly on the pulse shape features. A general analysis is carried out for an analytical pulse shape, and exact formulas are given for standard pulse shapes such as solitonlike, gaussian, lorenzian, etc., one- or half optical cycle in duration. The intensity and pulse length dependences of the ionization probability are of a near-universal tunneling type at high intensities. However at moderate intensities in the multiphoton regime these dependences differ widely for different pulse shapes, with ionization probabilities always a few orders of magnitude higher than for ionization by a monochromatic wave of the same intensity and mean frequency.

Keywords: multiphoton processes, tunnel and multiphoton ionization, relativistic ionization, very short laser pulses, intense laser radiation PACS: 32.80.Rm, 42.50.Hz, 42.65.Re (all) DOI: 10.3367/UFNe.2017.10.038229 URL: https://ufn.ru/en/articles/2017/11/g/ 000424395100007 2-s2.0-85042150640 2017PhyU...60.1187K Citation: Keldysh L V "Multiphoton ionization by a very short pulse" Phys. Usp. 60 1187–1193 (2017) BibTexBibNote ® (generic)BibNote ® (RIS)MedlineRefWorks Accepted: 18th, October 2017 Оригинал: Келдыш Л В «Многофотонная ионизация при воздействии ультракороткого лазерного импульса» УФН 187 1280–1287 (2017); DOI: 10.3367/UFNr.2017.10.038229