Nonsequential double ionization of Ne with elliptically polarized laser pulses

Abstract

We show through simulation that the improved quantitative rescattering model (QRS) can successfully predict the nonsequential double ionization (NSDI) process by intense elliptically polarized laser pulses. Using the QRS model, we calculate the correlated two-electron and ion momentum distributions of NSDI in Ne exposed to intense elliptically polarized laser pulses with a wavelength of 788 nm at a peak intensity of $5.0\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{14}$ W/${\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$. We analyze the asymmetry in the doubly charged ion momentum spectra observed by Kang et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 120, 223204 (2018)] in going from linearly to elliptically polarized laser pulses. Our model reproduces the experimental data well. Furthermore, we find that the ellipticity-dependent asymmetry arises from the drift velocity along the minor axis of the elliptic polarization. We explain how the correlated electron momentum distributions along the minor axis provide access to the subcycle dynamics of recollision. From these findings, we expect that we can extend the QRS model for NSDI toward more complicated laser fields in the future.