Nonstationary, autoionizing wave packets have been produced by exposing calcium Rydberg atoms to a pair of identical phase-coherent subpicosecond laser pulses. The energy and angular distribution and time of ejection of electrons has been altered by changing the relative phase and delay between the two laser pulses.

• Received 31 July 1998

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.82.2852