Probing spin-orbit-interaction-induced electron dynamics in the carbon atom by multiphoton ionization

Abstract

We use R-Matrix theory with Time dependence (RMT) to investigate multiphoton ionization of ground-state atomic carbon with initial orbital magnetic quantum number $M_L$=0 and $M_L$=1 at a laser wavelength of 390 nm and peak intensity of 10$^{14}$ W cm$^{-2}$. Significant differences in ionization yield and ejected-electron momentum distribution are observed between the two values for $M_L$. We use our theoretical results to model how the spin-orbit interaction affects electron emission along the laser polarization axis. Under the assumption that an initial C atom is prepared at zero time delay with $M_L=0$, the dynamics with respect to time delay of an ionizing probe pulse modelled using RMT theory is found to be in good agreement with available experimental data.