R-matrix-with-time-dependence theory for ultrafast atomic processes in arbitrary light fields

D. D. A. Clarke, G. S. J. Armstrong, A. C. Brown, H. W. Van Der Hart

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Abstract

We describe an ab initio and nonperturbative R-matrix with time-dependence theory for ultrafast atomic processes in light fields of arbitrary polarization. The theory is applicable to complex, multielectron atoms and atomic ions subject to ultrashort (particularly few-femtosecond and attosecond) laser pulses with any given ellipticity, and it generalizes previous time-dependent R-matrix techniques restricted to linearly polarized fields. We discuss both the fundamental equations, required to propagate the multielectron wave function in time, as well as the computational developments necessary for their efficient numerical solution. To verify the accuracy of our approach, we investigate the two-photon ionization of He, irradiated by a pair of time-delayed, circularly polarized, femtosecond laser pulses, and compare photoelectron momentum distributions, in the polarization plane, with those obtained from recent time-dependent close-coupling calculations. The predictive capabilities of our approach are further demonstrated through a study of single-photon detachment from F− in a circularly polarized, femtosecond laser pulse, where the relative contribution of the co- and counter-rotating 2p electrons is quantified.
Original languageEnglish
Article number053442
Number of pages15
JournalPhysical Review A (Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics)
Volume98
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 29 Nov 2018

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  • The R-matrix with time dependence (RMT) code

    Brown, A. (Developer), Van Der Hart, H. (Developer), Armstrong, G. (Developer), Wragg, J. (Developer), Clarke, D. (Developer), Gorfinkiel, J. (Developer), Benda, J. (Developer) & Masin, Z. (Developer), 11 Nov 2019

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