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We perform an experimental study on comparison between the ionization of homonuclear diatomic molecules (O2 and N2) and their companion atoms (Xe and Ar) radiated by circularly polarized intense laser fields. We find that the ionization of O2 shows suppression with respect to its companion atom Xe, which exhibits a clear wavelength and intensity dependence similar to that in linearly polarized laser field, while the ionization of N2 behaves like its companion atom Ar. With the help of S-matrix theoretical analysis, our observations can be attributed to both the molecular orbital and the two-center interference effect in molecular ionization process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present experimental and theoretical evidence on the breakdown of the simple man's model in the high-energy recollision region by examining both the energy-resolved angular distribution of photoelectrons in above-threshold ionization and the spectrum of high-order harmonics generated in elliptically polarized driver fields. With the help of a semiclassical model calculation, we show that, surprisingly, even for the high-energy recollision electrons, their wave-packet dynamics can be influenced strongly by the Coulomb field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The long-range Coulomb effect (LRCE) is demonstrated experimentally and theoretically by investigating the pulse duration dependence of low-energy structure (LES) in above-threshold ionization of Ne. It is found experimentally that at 800 nm the LES shows itself as a double-hump structure (DHS) in momentum distribution of singly charged ion for Ne, and moreover, this structure is more prominent for multicycle laser fields than for few-cycle cases. This result can be reproduced and explained qualitatively with a semiclassical model and attributed to the paramount role of LRCE. That is to say, after the laser field vanishes, the electrons decelerate while flying away from the core by the long-range tail of Coulomb potential, which eventually makes DHS less notable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Experimental and theoretical investigations of the wavelength dependence of the nonsequential double ionization (NSDI) process of the xenon atom in intense laser fields are reported. The observed wavelength dependence of the ratio Xe2+/Xe+ deviates significantly from the prediction of the three-step model of ionization (sometimes called the "simple-man" model), both in the slope of the overall decrease with increasing wavelength and in the existence of some pronounced humps. A semiclassical model calculation reproduces the changing slope of the overall decrease, which is due to the interplay of wave-packet diffusion, Coulomb focusing, and a closely related Coulomb defocusing effect of the liberated electron. The hump is beyond the scope of the semiclassical model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]