Ionization Suppression of Heteronuclear Diatomic and Triatomic Molecules in Strong Infrared Laser Fields

Ionization is the fundamental process in interaction of atoms/molecules with femtosecond strong laser fields. Comparing to atoms, molecules exhibit peculiar behaviors in strong-field ionization because of their diverse geometric structures, molecular electronic orbitals as well as extra nuclear degrees of freedom. In this study, we investigate strong field single and double ionization of carbon monoxide （CO） and carbon dioxide （CO2） in linearly polarized 50-fs, 800-nm laser fields with peak intensity in the range of 2×10 13 W/cm2 to 2×10 14 W/cm2 using time-of-flight mass spectrometer. By comparing the ionization yields with that of the companion atom krypton （Kr）, which has similar ionization potential to the molecules, we investigate the effect of molecular electronic orbitals on the strong-field ionization. The results show that comparing to Kr, no significant suppression is observed in single ionization of both molecules and in non-sequential double ionization （NSDI） of CO, while the NSDI probability of CO2 is strongly suppressed. Based on our results and previous studies on homonuclear diatomic molecules （N2 and O2）, the mechanism of different suppression effect is discussed. It is indicated that the different structure of the highest occupied molecular orbitals of CO and CO2 leads to distinct behaviors in two-center interference by the electronic wave-packet and angular distributions of the ionized electrons, resulting in different suppression effect in strong-field ionization.

Nonadiabatic Effect on the Rescattering Trajectories of Electrons in Strong Laser Field Ionization Process

The important features of the rescattering trajectories in strong field ionization process such as the cutoff of the return energy at 3.17Up and that of the final energy at 10Up are obtained, based on the adiabatic approximation in which the initial momentum of the electron is assumed to be zero. We theoretically study the nonadiabatic effect by assuming a nonzero initial momentum on the rescattering trajectories based on the semiclassical simpleman model. We show that the nonzero initial momentum will modify both the maximal return energy at collision and the final energy after backward scattering, but in different ways for odd and even number of return trajectories. The energies are increased for even number of returns but are decreased for odd number of returns when the nonzero （positive or negative） initial momentum is applied.

Ellipticity-dependent ionization/dissociation of carbon dioxide in strong laser fields

Ionization and dissociation of linear triatomic molecules, carbon dioxide, are studied in 50-fs 800-nm strong laser fields using time-of-flight mass spectrometer. The yields of double charged ions CO2^2＋ and various fragment ions（CO^＋,O^n＋, and C^n＋（n = 1, 2）） are measured as a function of ellipticity of laser polarization in the intensity range from 5.0 ×10^13W/cm2 to 6.0 × 10^14W/cm^2. The results demonstrate that non-sequential double ionization, which is induced by laser-driven electron recollision, dominates double ionization of CO2 in the strong IR laser field with intensity lower than2.0 × 10^14W/cm^2. The electron recollision could also have contribution in strong-field multiple ionization and formation of fragments of CO2 molecules. The present study indicates that the intensity and ellipticity dependence of ions yields can be used to probe the complex dynamics of strong-field ionization/dissociation of polyatomic molecules.

Rydberg excitation of neutral nitric oxide molecules in strong UV and near-IR laser fields

Rydberg state excitations of neutral nitric oxide molecules are studied in strong ultraviolet （UV） and near-infra-red （IR） laser fields using a linear time-of-flight （TOF） mass spectrometer with the pulsed electronic field ionization method. The yield of Rydberg molecules is measured as a function of laser intensity and ellipticity, and the results in UV laser fields are compared with those in near-IR laser fields. The present study provides the first experimental evidence of neutral Rydberg molecules surviving in a strong laser field. The results indicate that a rescattering-after-tunneling process is the main contribution to the formation of Rydberg molecules in strong near-IR laser fields, while multi-photon excitation may play an important role in the strong UV laser fields.

Efficient solver for time-dependent Schrodinger equation with interaction between atoms and strong laser field

We present a parallel numerical method of simulating the interaction of atoms with a strong laser field by solving the time-depending Schr?dinger equation(TDSE) in spherical coordinates. This method is realized by combining constructing block diagonal matrices through using the real space product formula(RSPF) with splitting out diagonal sub-matrices for short iterative Lanczos(SIL) propagator. The numerical implementation of the solver guarantees efficient parallel computing for the simulation of real physical problems such as high harmonic generation(HHG) in these interaction systems.

Effect of laser polarization on strong-field ionization andfragmentation of nitrous oxide molecules

Ionization of molecules in femtosecond laser fields is the most fundamental and important step of various strong-field physical processes. In this study, we experimentally investigate strong field ionization of linear N_2O molecules using a time-of-flight mass spectrometer in 800-nm laser fields. Yields of the parent ion and different fragment ions are measured as a function of laser intensity in the range of 2.0×10^(13) W/cm^2 to 3.6×10^(14) W/cm^2. We also investigate the dependence of strong field ionization and dissociation of N_2O on laser ellipticity and polarization direction. The significant role of laser induced electron re-collision in the formation of highly charged fragment ions is proved. The physical mechanism of strong field ionization and fragmentation is discussed, based on our experimental results.

A 7 T Pulsed Magnetic Field Generator for Magnetized Laser Plasma Experiments

A pulsed magnetic field generator was developed to study the effect of a magnetic field on the evolution of a laser-generated plasma. A 40 kV pulsed power system delivered a fast （-230 ns）, 55 kA current pulse into a single-turn coil surrounding the laser target, using a capacitor bank of 200 nF, a laser-triggered switch and a low-impedance strip transmission line. A one-dimensional uniform 7 T pulsed magnetic field was created using a Helmholtz coil pair with a 6 mm diameter. The pulsed magnetic field was controlled to take effect synchronously with a nanosecond heating laser beam, a femtosecond probing laser beam and an optical Intensified Charge Coupled Device （ICCD） detector. The preliminary experiments demonstrate bifurcation and focusing of plasma expansion in a transverse magnetic field.

利用原子在圆偏振激光场中的强场电离产生自旋极化电子

圆偏振激光场中原子的非绝热强场电离为产生自旋极化电子提供了机会.我们应用这些解析电离速率公式[Ingo Barth and Olga Smirnova,Phys.Rev.A 88,013401(2013)]更系统地研究了通过Kr和Xe原子在右旋圆偏振激光脉冲中的强场电离产生自旋极化电子,并证实了不同自旋态的光电子能量分布有很大差异、电子的自旋极化敏感地依赖于光电子能量.另外,在光电子能谱的低能部分其自旋极化可以达到100%,并且通过调节激光强度和频率可以很好地控制能量积分的自旋极化.

非均匀强激光场下正负电子对的产生

随着强激光技术领域的不断突破,使得能量转化成物质的施温格过程的实验指日可待.在这样的背景下,在接近实际强激光的模型中理论研究施温格效应至关重要.本文采用量子场论模拟方法在非均匀电场中研究施温格效应的空间特性.首先,发现在能量保持不变的情况下电场的空间尺度显著影响正负电子对的产生率、动量和空间分布.正负电子对的动量和空间分布显示,当电场的空间尺度增大时,因为电场强度变小,所以产生的正负电子对无法及时被分开,抑制正负电子对的产生.最后,用连续性方程研究正负电子对的产生位置分布,发现正负电子对的产生位置分布与电场强度分布是对应的,电子和正电子的产生位置分离一个康普顿波长.此研究结果展示了施温格效应的空间特性,同时解释了弱电场下施温格效应的抑制机制.这些结论在人们常采用的均匀电场近似研究中无法得到.我们的研究对检测施温格实验中的正负电子对具有重要的指导意义.

Method of accurately calculating mean field operator in multi-configuration time-dependent Hartree-Fock frame

The accurate theoretical expressions of the mean field operator associated with the multi-configuration time-dependent Hartree-Fock （MCTDHF） method are presented in this paper. By using a theoretical formula, derived without approxima- tion, we can study the multi-electron correlation dynamics accurately. Some illustrative calculations are carried out to check the accuracy of the expression of the mean field operator. The results of illustrative calculations indicate the reliability of the accurate expression of the mean field operator. This theoretical calculation method for the mean field operator may be of considerable help in future studies of the correlated dynamics of many-electron systems in strong laser fields.

Creation and annihilation phenomena of electron and positron pairs in an oscillating field

The combination of an oscillating and a static field is used to study the creation and annihilation phenomena during the pair creation process.The time evolution,spatial density and momentum distribution of the created particles for a fermionic system are presented,which demonstrate that with the increasing static field intensity,the number of the created particles experiences a distinguishable decrease in every period of the oscillating field,which is caused by the annihilation phenomena between the created electrons and positrons.

轨迹分析中红外脉冲超分辨探测

随着激光技术的发展,激光脉冲峰值功率达到10^(12)W,脉宽达到飞秒甚至阿秒量级。超短超强激光脉冲技术的出现,为军事领域带来了很大的挑战和发展机遇,尤其是中红外波段激光脉冲在激光告警技术、激光探测、激光主动制导等方面有着巨大的应用前景。但由于现有的探测技术对飞秒、阿秒量级的激光脉冲不敏感,急需一种新的飞秒激光脉冲探测技术,针对中红外波段激光脉冲提出了一种超分辨相干探测方法并对其探测机制进行了深入分析,该方法具有探测准确度高、灵敏度高等优点,能够应用于未来以飞秒甚至阿秒脉冲为主动光源的激光制导技术,为飞秒、阿秒激光脉冲在军事领域中的应用奠定了技术基础。

二维强激光场中原子分子电离和谐波辐射的应用(特邀)

二维激光场具有高分辨能力,为人们在阿秒时间尺度探测和调控物质中电子的超快运动提供了可能。相较于原子,分子具有更多自由度,在强激光场中会呈现出许多新效应。本文介绍了利用强正交偏振双色激光场和椭圆偏振激光场中原子分子的电离和高次谐波辐射分辨电子超快动力学、探测分子空间结构、合成阿秒脉冲链等相关研究。分析了库仑效应、双中心干涉效应、固有偶极效应等对分子电离和谐波辐射的重要影响。通过原子在正交偏振双色场中的强场电离定义了库仑效应诱导的电离时间延迟,解释了双色场中原子光电子谱的上下不对称结构、极性分子光电子谱的各向异性、高次谐波辐射电子轨道时域性质的重要改变。对椭圆偏振激光场中原子强场电离的研究构建了描述库仑诱导电离时间延迟的基本理论模型,基于该模型分辨了椭偏场中极性分子固有偶极对电离的贡献、量化了正交双色场中原子光电子谱的特征结构位置。利用正交偏振双色场中对称分子光电子谱在特定分子取向角下呈现的不对称结构,以及椭偏场中对称分子光电子谱对分子取向角的灵敏依赖实现了对分子空间结构信息的探测。凭借正交双色场中对称分子产生的高次谐波对分子取向角的依赖特性合成了单周期只释放一次的阿秒脉冲链,以及利用小椭偏率激光场中分子产生的高椭偏谐波合成了明亮的超短极紫外脉冲。本文内容将深化人们对正交偏振双色场和椭圆偏振激光场中原子分子电离和谐波辐射机制与规律的认识,为利用二维激光场分辨和控制电子超快动力学的实验研究提供理论参考。

从“强场原子物理”到“强场原子核物理”

20世纪80年代中期,啁啾脉冲放大技术(2018年诺贝尔物理学奖)突破了激光强度提升的瓶颈,激光强度跨越了原子单位的门槛(1个原子单位激光强度对应功率密度3.5×1016 W/cm2).这样强的激光场可以在原子、分子中诱导出高阶非线性响应,导致一系列新的物理现象,其中尤其重要的是高次谐波辐射和阿秒光脉冲产生(2023年诺贝尔物理学奖).随着强激光技术的进步,当前激光强度已达到1023 W/cm2量级,并在进一步提升中.这样强的激光场能否在原子核中诱导出类似的高阶非线性响应、将“强场原子物理”推进至“强场原子核物理”?最近的研究发现,当前的强激光至少可以在一个特殊的原子核,即钍-229原子核诱导出高阶非线性响应.这得益于该原子核存在一个能量极低的激发态和超精细混合效应对于光核耦合的增强.高阶非线性响应的触发可以极大地提升原子核的激发概率和调控效率.类似原子,被强激光驱动的原子核也会向外辐射高次谐波.“强场原子核物理”开始成为光与物质相互作用以及核物理研究的新前沿,提供基于强激光的原子核激发和调控新方案,以及基于原子核跃迁的相干光辐射新途径.

Laboratory astrophysics with laser-driven strong magnetic fields in China

In this paper, the recent studies of laboratory astrophysics with strong magnetic fields in China have been reviewed.On the Shenguang-II laser facility of the National Laboratory on High-Power Lasers and Physics, a laser-driven strong magnetic field up to 200 T has been achieved. The experiment was performed to model the interaction of solar wind with dayside magnetosphere. Also the low beta plasma magnetic reconnection(MR) has been studied. Theoretically, the model has been developed to deal with the atomic structures and processes in strong magnetic field. Also the study of shock wave generation in the magnetized counter-streaming plasmas is introduced.

Behavior of the relativistic angular and energy distributions of atoms exposed to a strong and low-frequency circularly polarized laser field

In this Letter, we focus on the theoretical analysis of the relativistic energy and angular distributions of the ejected photoelectrons during the relativistic tunnel ionization of atoms by intense, circularly polarized light. We make a small modification of the general analytical expressions for these distributions. The role of the initial momentum, the ponderomotive potential, and the Stark shift are considered. We also present the maximal angle of electron emission.

超短超强激光等离子体相互作用研究的进展及其潜在的应用

从激光技术的发展、超短超强激光等离子体相互作用研究的特点、方法、内容及其潜在的应用等5个方面对强场物理在国内外的情况作了论述,进一步指出强场物理的实验研究及其应用依赖于激光装置的发展,而超短超强激光技术的发展又使得强场物理的研究变得更具前景、更具挑战性.

强激光辐照下柱壳温度场的数值模拟

用有限元方法数值模拟强激光辐照下柱壳上温度场的变化和分布情况，并对热性能参数随温度变化对温度场造成的影响进行了研究。

脉冲强光杀菌装置的初步设计研究

脉冲强光杀菌是一种新兴的冷杀菌技术,本文设计脉冲强光杀菌的发生电路,对其进行了初步的设计研究,使用双电源脉冲发生电路提供能量。

强场太赫兹光源及其物质调控研究(特邀)

介绍了基于超快激光的强场太赫兹波产生技术、探测技术及其在物质调控研究中的应用.强场太赫兹波的产生机制主要包括:晶体非线性效应、激光等离子体相互作用、太赫兹自由电子激光等.太赫兹波的探测技术包括:电光采样探测、空气偏压相干探测和单发探测等.最后介绍了强场太赫兹光源在物质调控研究中的应用,特别指出将强场太赫兹光源与第四代X射线光源相结合,在物性表征和调控方面具有广阔的应用前景.