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We extend our earlier "virtual detector" method [X. Wang, J. Tian, and J. H. Eberly, Phys. Rev. Lett. 110, 243001 (2013)], a hybrid quantum mechanical and classical trajectory method, to include phases in the classical trajectories. Effects of quantum interferences, lost in the earlier method, are restored. The obtained photoelectron momentum distributions agree well with the corresponding numerical solutions of the time-dependent Schr\"odinger equation.

Obtaining a detailed understanding of strong-field double ionisation of many-electron systems (heavy atoms and molecules) remains a challenging task. By comparing experimental and theoretical results in the mid-IR regime, we have unambiguously identified the transition from non-sequential (e,2e) to sequential double ionisation in Xe and shown that it occurs at an intensity below $10^{14}$ Wcm$^{-2}$. In addition, our data demonstrate that ionisation from the Xe 5s orbital is decisive at low intensities. Moreover, using the acetylene molecule, we propose how sequential double ionisation in the mid-IR can be used to study molecular dynamics and fragmentation on unprecedented few-femtosecond timescales., Comment: 12 pages overall, 5 pages of main text, 3 figures

Quantum entanglement between an arbitrary number of remote qubits is examined analytically. We show that there is a non-probabilistic way to address in one context the management of entanglement of an arbitrary number of mixed-state qubits by engaging quantitative measures of entanglement and a specific external control mechanism. Both all-party entanglement and weak inseparability are considered. We show that for $N\ge4$, the death of all-party entanglement is permanent after an initial collapse. In contrast, weak inseparability can be deterministically managed for an arbitrarily large number of qubits almost indefinitely. Our result suggests a picture of the path that the system traverses in the Hilbert space.

We take advantage of the information provided by use of elliptical polarization in a recent two-electron release time experiment [A.N. Pfeiffer et al., Nature Physics 7, 428 (2011)]. This allows a comparative test of the currently dominant conjectures regarding independent-electron tunneling theory vs. fully electron-correlated classical release theory to describe electron release in strong-field double ionization.

Important information about strong-field atomic or molecular ionization can be missed when using linearly polarized laser fields. The field strength at which an electron was ionized, or the time during a pulse of the ionization event are examples of such missing information. In treating single, double, and triple ionization events we show that information of this kind is made readily available by use of elliptical polarization.

The entanglement dynamics of two remote qubits is examined analytically. The qubits interact arbitrarily strongly with separate harmonic oscillators in the idealized degenerate limit of the Jaynes-Cummings Hamiltonian. In contrast to well known non-degenerate RWA results, it is shown that ideally degenerate qubits cannot induce bipartite entanglement between their partner oscillators., Comment: 8 pages, 6 figures

Multielectron double ionization with elliptically polarized light is examined theoretically using a classical ensemble method going beyond the single-active-electron approximation. A knee structure in the ion signal is found. Our analysis provides an explanation for newly observed SDI phenomena.

The degree of elliptical polarization of intense short laser pulses is shown to be related to the timing of strong-field non-sequential double ionization. Higher ellipticity is predicted to force the initiation of double ionization into a narrower time window, and this "pins" the ionizing field strength in an unexpected way, leading to the first experimentally testable formula for double ionization probability as a function of ellipticity.

Using a classical ensemble method, nonsequential double ionization is predicted to exist with elliptical and circular polarization. Recollision is found to be the underlying mechanism and it is only possible via elliptical trajectories., Comment: Submitted to New Journal of Physics

We predict new end-of-pulse behavior in high-field atomic double ionization. Calculations of atomic electron trajectories in short intense laser pulses confirm our analysis of elliptical polarization. We exhibit a four-band structure in ion momentum distributions under various ellipticities, and predict that sequential and non-sequential double ionization can be cleanly distinguished under elliptical polarization., Comment: Abstract, introduction and conclusion modified; new figures added; new references added

We join the tribute to Professor N.B. Delone in this memorial issue by presenting the results of new calculations on the effects of ellipticity on double ionization by short and strong near-optical laser pulses., Comment: 3 pages, 4 figures, accepted in Professor N.B. Delone's memorial issue

We describe first-principles in-plane calculations of non-sequential triple ionization (NSTI) of atoms in a linearly polarized intense laser pulse. In a fully classically correlated description, all three electrons respond dynamically to the nuclear attraction, the pairwise e-e repulsions and the laser force throughout the duration of a 780nm laser pulse. Nonsequential ejection is shown to occur in a multi-electron, possibly multi-cycle and multi-dimensional, rescattering sequence that is coordinated by a number of sharp transverse recollimation impacts., Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures

We use classical electron ensembles and the aligned-electron approximation to examine the effect of laser pulse duration on the dynamics of strong-field double ionization. We cover the range of intensities $10^{14}-10^{16} W/cm^2$ for the laser wavelength 780 nm. The classical scenario suggests that the highest rate of recollision occurs early in the pulse and promotes double ionization production in few-cycle pulses. In addition, the purely classical ensemble calculation predicts an exponentially decreasing recollision rate with each subsequent half cycle. We confirm the exponential behavior by trajectory back-analysis.

We introduce a unified and simplified theory of atomic double ionization. Our results show that at high laser intensities ($I \ge 10^{14}$ watts/cm$^2$) purely classical correlation is strong enough to account for all of the main features observed in experiments to date.