Phase-locking mechanism in non-sequential double ionization

Abstract

Here, we identify a new mechanism where the early stage of electron ionization in the field of strong femtosecond laser pulse determines the final yield of non-sequential double ionization. By using simple trajectory methods we prove that the powerful short wavelength laser field causes an injection locking between its phase and the phases of the electron trajectories, which is next responsible for the enhanced or suppressed ionization for given intensities in the knee region. It is shown that both ionization and entanglement of the final electron state can be easily controlled by introducing frequency chirp of the laser field. Our methods allow one to quantify the quantum correlations due to the different mechanisms of strong field ionization.