Quantum Interference of Glory Rescattering in Strong-Field Atomic Ionization

TL;DR

This paper reveals that the transverse momentum distribution of photoelectrons in strong-field atomic ionization exhibits quantum interference effects modeled by a Bessel function, explained through a new Glory rescattering theory.

Contribution

The paper introduces Glory rescattering theory (GRT) that quantitatively explains quantum interference effects in photoelectron momentum distributions during strong-field ionization.

Findings

Distribution fits a squared Bessel function due to interference

GRT resolves discrepancies between theory and experiment

Predicts transition in holographic fringe structures

Abstract

During the ionization of atoms irradiated by linearly polarized intense laser fields, we find for the first time that the transverse momentum distribution of photoelectrons can be well fitted by a squared zeroth-order Bessel function because of the quantum interference effect of Glory rescattering. The characteristic of the Bessel function is determined by the common angular momentum of a bunch of semiclassical paths termed as Glory trajectories, which are launched with different nonzero initial transverse momenta distributed on a specific circle in the momentum plane and finally deflected to the same asymptotic momentum, which is along the polarization direction, through post-tunneling rescattering. Glory rescattering theory (GRT) based on the semiclassical path-integral formalism is developed to address this effect quantitatively. Our theory can resolve the long-standing discrepancies between existing theories and experiments on the fringe location, predict the sudden transition of the fringe structure in holographic patterns, and shed light on the quantum interference aspects of low-energy structures in strong-field atomic ionization.