We predict new end-of-pulse behavior in high-field atomic double ionization. Calculations of atomic electron trajectories in short intense laser pulses confirm our analysis of elliptical polarization. We exhibit a four-band structure in ion momentum distributions under various ellipticities, and predict that sequential and nonsequential double ionization can be cleanly distinguished under elliptical polarization.

• Received 27 May 2009

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.103.103007