Intensity dependence of Rydberg states

TL;DR

This paper explores how the yield of Rydberg states after strong-field ionization depends on laser intensity, revealing wavelength effects and the importance of non-adiabatic dynamics, with implications for experimental diagnostics.

Contribution

It introduces a combined numerical and analytical approach to understand intensity dependence of Rydberg yields, highlighting wavelength effects and non-adiabatic influences.

Findings

Intensity dependence varies with wavelength.

Power-law dependence breaks down at longer wavelengths.

Rydberg yield measurements can test non-adiabaticity.

Abstract

We investigate numerically and analytically the intensity dependence of the fraction of electrons that end up in a Rydberg state after strong-field ionization with linearly polarized light. We find that including the intensity dependent distribution of ionization times and non-adiabatic effects leads to a better understanding of experimental results. Furthermore, we observe using Classical Trajectory Monte Carlo simulations that the intensity dependence of the Rydberg yield changes with wavelength and that the previously observed power-law dependence breaks down at longer wavelengths. Our work suggests that Rydberg yield measurements can be used as an independent test for non-adiabaticity in strong field ionization.