Tunneling ionization of atoms and atomic ions in an intense laser field with a nonhomogeneous space–time distribution

Abstract

An analytical theory of tunneling ionization in the field of a short, high-intensity laser pulse is developed. It is shown that the space–time distribution of the laser field affects the yield of ions produced with tunneling. We derive an expression for the threshold appearance intensity, which gives values that agree well with experimental data. Also derived is an expression for the probability of ionization in an ultrashort pulse of an electric field.