Elliptical Polarization and Probability of Double Ionization

TL;DR

This paper explores how elliptical polarization of intense laser pulses influences the timing and probability of non-sequential double ionization, providing a new formula linking ellipticity to ionization likelihood.

Contribution

It introduces the first experimentally testable formula relating double ionization probability to laser ellipticity, revealing how polarization affects ionization timing.

Findings

Higher ellipticity narrows the ionization time window

Ellipticity 'pins' the ionizing field strength

Provides a new formula for double ionization probability

Abstract

The degree of elliptical polarization of intense short laser pulses is shown to be related to the timing of strong-field non-sequential double ionization. Higher ellipticity is predicted to force the initiation of double ionization into a narrower time window, and this "pins" the ionizing field strength in an unexpected way, leading to the first experimentally testable formula for double ionization probability as a function of ellipticity.