Pulse duration dependence of atomic sequential double ionization by circular laser pulses

Abstract

Using classical ensemble method, we have investigated the pulse duration dependence of sequential double ionization (SDI) of Ar atoms driven by circularly polarized laser pulses. The results show that the ion momentum distribution of Ar atoms depends strongly on the pulse duration. As the pulse duration increases, the ion momentum distribution changes from single-ring to double-ring structure, and finally to the single-ring structure. Back analysis of double ionization trajectories shows that the variation of the ring structure originates from the dependence of the ionization time of the second electron on the pulse duration. Moreover, our calculations clearly manifest the subcycle electron emission in sequential double ionization by circularly polarized laser pulses.