Inelastic scattering of broadband electron wave packets driven by an intense mid-infrared laser field

TL;DR

This paper investigates inelastic scattering of broadband electron wave packets generated by intense mid-infrared laser pulses, revealing detailed ionization pathways and core excitation effects in xenon atoms.

Contribution

It demonstrates that multi-photon ionization produces broadband electron wave packets whose inelastic scattering can be described using field-free cross sections, including core excitation contributions.

Findings

Broadband wave packets reach up to 400 eV of kinetic energy.

Multiple ionization pathways are consistent with a white electron wave packet model.

Evidence of 4d core excitation in xenon during ionization.

Abstract

Intense, 100 fs laser pulses at 3.2 and 3.6 um are used to generate, by multi-photon ionization, broadband wave packets with up to 400 eV of kinetic energy and charge states up to Xe+6. The multiple ionization pathways are well described by a white electron wave packet and field-free inelastic cross sections, averaged over the intensity-dependent energy distribution for (e,ne) electron impact ionization. The analysis also suggests a contribution from a 4d core excitation in xenon.