Effect of quantum interference on tunneling photoionization rates of N2 and O2 molecules

Abstract

In this work, we reexamine the photoionization rates of N(2) and O(2) molecules using the previously published photoionization rate theory which is based on the original atomic Keldysh theory [K. Mishima et al., Phys. Rev. A 66, 033401 (2002); ibid.66, 053408 (2002)]. We have found that the constructive quantum interference takes place for N(2) molecule while the destructive quantum interference plays an important role for O(2) molecule. This is consistent with the experimental and theoretical results reported in the literature. The formulas derived in this paper clearly show that this is due to the different symmetries of the valence orbitals of N(2) and O(2) molecules.