Quantum theory of terahertz emission due to ultrashort pulse ionization of gases

K. Schuh, M. Scheller, J. Hader, J. V. Moloney, and S. W. Koch

Phys. Rev. E 88, 063102 – Published 5 December 2013

Abstract

A microscopic model is developed to analyze terahertz (THz) emission after ultrashort one- and two-color laser-pulse excitations of an atomic gas. Optical Bloch equations are derived to describe the pulse-induced ionization in the many-atom system including the Coulombic scattering of the ionized electrons. The model captures the continuous transition between the tunneling and the multiphoton ionization regimes. Numerical evaluations for a wide range of pulse configurations identify optimized excitation conditions for strong THz emission.

Received 1 July 2013

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.88.063102

Authors & Affiliations

K. Schuh^*, M. Scheller, J. Hader, and J. V. Moloney

Department of Mathematics, Arizona Center for Mathematical Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721, USA and College of Optical Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721, USA

S. W. Koch

College of Optical Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721, USA and Department of Physics and Material Science Center, Philipps-University, 35032 Marburg, Germany

^*kschuh@optics.arizona.edu

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Issue

Vol. 88, Iss. 6 — December 2013

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