Singly, doubly and triply resonant multiphoton processes involving autoionizing states in magnesium

Abstract

Using the R-matrix Floquet theory we have carried out non-perturbative, ab initio one- and two-colour calculations of the multiphoton ionization of magnesium with the laser frequencies chosen such that the initial state of the atom is resonantly coupled with autoionizing resonances of the atom. Good agreement is obtained with previous calculations in the low-intensity regimes. The single-photon ionization from the excited state of magnesium has been studied in the vicinity of the autoionizing resonance at non-perturbative laser intensities. Laser-induced degenerate states (LIDS) are observed for modest laser intensities. By adding a second laser which resonantly couples the and autoionizing levels, we show that, due to the small width of the state, LIDS occur between this state and the state at intensities of the first laser below . We next investigate the case in which the first laser induces a resonant two-photon coupling between the ground state and the autoionizing state, while the second laser again resonantly couples the respective and autoionizing states. At weak intensities, our calculations compare favourably with recent experimental data and calculations. We show that when the intensity of the first laser is increased, the effect of an additional autoionizing state, the state, becomes significant. This state is coupled to the autoionizing level by one photon, inducing a triply resonant processes. We show that LIDS occur among the three autoionizing levels and we discuss their effect on the decay rate of the ground state. We consider dressed two- and three-level atoms which can be used to model the results of our calculations.