Breakdown of Stabilization of Atoms Interacting with Intense, High-Frequency Laser Pulses

N. J. Kylstra; R. A. Worthington; A. Patel; P. L. Knight; J. R. Vázquez de Aldana; L. Roso

doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.85.1835

Breakdown of Stabilization of Atoms Interacting with Intense, High-Frequency Laser Pulses

N. J. Kylstra, R. A. Worthington, A. Patel, P. L. Knight, J. R. Vázquez de Aldana, and L. Roso

Phys. Rev. Lett. 85, 1835 – Published 28 August 2000

Abstract

An analysis of the influence of the magnetic field of an intense, high-frequency laser pulse on the stabilization of an atomic system is presented. We demonstrate that at relatively modest intensities the magnetic field can significantly alter the dynamics of the system. In particular, a breakdown of stabilization occurs, thereby restricting the intensity regime in which the atom is relatively stable against ionization. Counterpropagating pulses do not negate the detrimental effects of the magnetic field. We compare our quantum mechanical results with classical Monte Carlo simulations.

Received 13 April 2000

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.85.1835

Authors & Affiliations

N. J. Kylstra¹, R. A. Worthington¹, A. Patel², P. L. Knight², J. R. Vázquez de Aldana³, and L. Roso³

¹Department of Physics, Science Laboratories, University of Durham, Durham DH1 3LE, United Kingdom
²Optics Section, Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College, London SW7 2BZ, United Kingdom
³Departamento de Física Aplicada, Universidad de Salamanca, E-37008 Salamanca, Spain