Coulomb Potential Recapture Effect in Above-Barrier Ionization in Laser Pulses

Abstract

The Coulomb potential recapture effect in above-barrier ionization with ultrashort long-wavelength laser pulses is investigated theoretically by solving the one-dimensional time-dependent Schrödinger equation. We find that electrons can be recaptured with considerable possibility by the Coulomb potential near the end of the pulse though atoms are ionized almost completely within the first few half optical cycles. Therefore there is a high probability of the atom surviving after the pulse. We also check this process in the three-dimensional case and find that this kind of stabilization can still exist in three-dimensional atoms.