Frustrated double ionization of atoms in elliptically polarized laser fields

Abstract

Using a three-dimensional classical model, we theoretically investigate frustrated double ionization (FDI) of atoms in elliptically polarized laser fields. The probability curves of FDI have the same characteristic “knee” shape as that of the double ionization. An analysis of the FDI trajectories shows that more than half of the FDI events are induced by recollision for any laser ellipticity. The FDI events without the recollision can be controlled by the ellipticity. Furthermore, the occurrence of FDI events with recollision can be determined from the shape of the photoelectron momentum distribution in elliptically polarized laser fields.