Above-threshold ionization in the x-ray regime

Abstract

Two-photon above-threshold ionization processes in the x-ray regime are studied using atomic hydrogen as a model system. Within the minimal-coupling formalism of nonrelativistic quantum electrodynamics, two distinct interactions---$\stackrel{\ifmmode \hat{}\else \^{}\fi{}}{\mathbf{A}}\ensuremath{\cdot}\stackrel{\ifmmode \hat{}\else \^{}\fi{}}{\mathbf{p}}$ in second order and ${\stackrel{\ifmmode \hat{}\else \^{}\fi{}}{\mathbf{A}}}^{2}$ in first order---contribute to the two-photon absorption amplitude. The relative importance of these two interactions is assessed. It is found that above a photon energy of 6.8 keV, the contribution from ${\stackrel{\ifmmode \hat{}\else \^{}\fi{}}{\mathbf{A}}}^{2}$ to the total two-photon absorption cross section dominates. In this high-energy regime, above-threshold ionization is a nonsequential purely nondipole process. Rate equations are employed to calculate the probabilities of ionization by Compton scattering, one-photon absorption, and two-photon absorption.