Angular distribution of photoelectron momentum in above-threshold ionization by circularly polarized laser pulses

Abstract

The above-threshold ionization (ATI) of argon atoms in intense circularly polarized laser fields has been investigated by numerically solving the three-dimensional time-dependent Schr\odinger equation and the classical Newton-Lorentz equation. There are obvious angular shifts of the photoelectron momentum distribution corresponding to the peaks in the ATI spectrum. They have little dependence on the external field and are mainly determined by the final kinetic energy. It is found that the angular shift is monotonically increasing as a function of the photoelectron final kinetic energy. Based on the classical simulations, the initial kinetic energy of electrons can be obtained by separating the contribution of the external field and Coulomb potential from the final kinetic energy. We conclude that the stronger the laser field, the bigger the initial velocity of electrons for a definite final kinetic energy. Then, based on the final kinetic energy and the laser parameters, the initial velocity can be evaluated.