Nonlinear dynamics of ionization stabilization of atoms in intense laser fields

TL;DR

This paper explores how nonlinear dynamics explain why atoms do not fully ionize under superintense laser pulses, analyzing the effects of pulse shape and ionization criteria on ionization probabilities.

Contribution

It offers a new nonlinear dynamics perspective on ionization stabilization and examines the influence of pulse components and ionization criteria on atom behavior.

Findings

Complete ionization is avoided at high intensities due to nonlinear effects.

The shape of the laser pulse significantly affects ionization probabilities.

Choice of ionization criterion impacts the interpretation of stabilization.

Abstract

We revisit the stabilization of ionization of atoms subjected to a superintense laser pulse using nonlinear dynamics. We provide an explanation for the lack of complete ionization at high intensity and for the decrease of the ionization probability as intensity is increased. We investigate the role of each part of the laser pulse (ramp-up, plateau, ramp-down) in this process. We emphasize the role of the choice for the ionization criterion, energy versus distance criterion.