Atoms in Strong Laser Fields: Lecture 2: Theoretical Methods I
Atoms in Strong Laser Fields: Lecture 2: Theoretical Methods I
• Classical methods
• Perturbative methods
— Gordon-Volkov series
— Strong-field approximation (KFR theories)
References
1
Classical methods
r̈(t) = −∇V
~} −E(t)
neglected
• Initial conditions:
— v(t0 ) = 0 (vanishing drift velocity)
2
Tangent construction
Return condition
U t1
• x(t1 ) = 0 ⇒ A(τ )dτ = (t1 − t0)A(t0 )
t0
Ut
• Defining F (t) = A(τ )dτ we have
Cutoff condition
• ∂Ekin(t1, t0 )/∂t0 = 0
3
Perturbative methods
] t
Ua(t, t ) = Ub(t, t ) − i Ub (t, s)Ha,b(s)Ub (s, t )ds
] t ] s t
− ds Ub (t, s) Ha,b (s) Ub (s, s )Ha,b (s )Ub(s , t )ds + ...
t t ~}
Ha − Hb
4
Standard ("low-intensity") perturbation theory:
• Ha = p2 /2 + V + Hint (t)
• Hb ≡ H (GV ) = p2/2 + Hint(t) (GV Hamiltonian)
• Formally:
— Both series are mixed
— Referred to as perturbation theory with a modified basis
• Physical idea:
— Neglect Hint when the e− is bound
−
— Neglect V when the e is in the continuum
5
Different formulations: difference between K F and R
(context: ionization probabilities)
Transition amplitude:
M = lim ψp (t+) S(t+, t−) |φ0(t−)
t±→±∞
with
S = lim exp(it+H+) · U (t+, t−) · exp(−it−H−)
t±→±∞
and
H± = lim H(t)
t±→±∞
Strong-field approximation:
] t
U(t, t ) U0 (t, t ) − i dt U (GV )(t, t )Hint (t )U0 (t , t )
t
Keldysh Faisal-Reiss
Length gauge: Velocity gauge
Hint (t) = r.E(t) Hint (t) = −p.A(t) + A2 (t)
6
Application: above-threshold ionization
Direct electrons
t´
θ
Cutoff: 2Up
Transition amplitude:
U t+ G
Becker et al: M = −i lim ψ(GV
p
)
(t) V |ψ 0(t ) dt
t±→±∞ t−
U t+ G
M = −i lim ψ(GV
p
)
(t) Hint (t) |ψ0 (t) dt
t±→±∞ t−
How to prove it ?
7
• We take
Hint (t) = Hint (t) + p2/2 − (p2/2 + V ) +V
~} ~}
H (GV )(t) H0 (t)
• and use
8
Rescattered electrons
t´
θ
t
Cutoff: 10U p
Transition amplitude:
] t+ ] t G
(GV )
M = −i lim dt dt ψ p (t) V U (GV )(t, t )V |ψ0 (t )
t±→±∞ t− t−
9
Gauge-equivalent Hamiltonians
• Length gauge
∆
Hl (t) = − + V + r · E(t)
2
Tv←l (t) = eiA(t).r
• Velocity gauge
1
Hv (t) = (−i∇ − A(t))2 + V
2
Tv←KH (t) = e−ia(t)eic(t).p
• Kramers-Henneberger gauge
Tl←KH (t) = e−ia(t)e−iA(t).reic(t).p
∆
HKH (t) = − + V (r − c(t))
2
]t
• a(t) = 1
2
A2(s)ds
]t
• c(t) = A(s)ds
10
Time evolution operators
(GV )
UKH (t, t ) = exp[−ip2(t − t )/2]
• Length gauge
(GV ) −1
Ul (t, t ) = Tl←KH (t) exp[−ip2(t − t )/2]Tl←KH (t )
• Velocity gauge
−1
Uv(GV )(t, t ) = Tv←KH (t) exp[−ip2(t − t )/2]Tv←KH (t )
11
Momentum space
Amplitude
] ∞ ] t ]
Mresc = − dt dt d3 k eiSp (t,t ,k)Vpk Vk0
−∞ −∞
with
U∞ 2 Ut
Sp(t, t , k) = − 12 t dτ [p − A(τ )] − 1
2 t dτ [k − A(τ )]2 + |E0|t
• Vpk = p| V |k
• Vk0 = k − A(t )| V |0
]t
(GV )
p | Ul (t, t ) |p = exp[−i [p − A(s)]2 dsδ(p − p − A(t))]
t
12