Atomic ionization by twisted photons: Angular distribution of emitted electrons

TL;DR

This paper studies how twisted photons influence the angular distribution of electrons emitted during ionization of hydrogen-like ions, revealing impact parameter effects and conditions under which emission patterns resemble plane wave photoionization.

Contribution

It provides a detailed analysis of impact parameter dependence in electron emission patterns caused by twisted photons, using perturbation theory and Schrödinger equation calculations.

Findings

Electron emission patterns are strongly affected by the atom's position within the twisted wave front.

At large impact parameters, emission patterns become independent of the atom's position.

The study highlights conditions where twisted photon ionization resembles plane wave photoionization.

Abstract

We investigate the angular distribution of electrons that are emitted in the ionization of hydrogen-like ions by twisted photons. Analysis is performed based on the first-order perturbation theory and the non-relativistic Schr\"odinger equation. Special attention is paid to the dependence of the electron emission pattern on the impact parameter b of the ion with respect to the centre of the twisted wave front. In order to explore such a dependence, detailed calculations were carried out for the photoionization of the 1s ground and 2 py excited states of neutral hydrogen atoms. Based on these calculations, we argue that for relatively small impact parameters the electron angular distributions may be strongly affected by altering the position of the atom within the wave front. In contrast, if the atom is placed far from the front centre, the emission pattern of the electrons is independent on the impact parameter b and resembles that observed in the photoionization by plane wave photons.