Nondipole Coulomb effects in strong x-ray field ionization

Abstract

Atomic ionization in superintense x-ray fields is studied through numerical solutions of the time-dependent Schrödinger equation including nondipole corrections. The role of the Coulomb potential of the atomic core in the nondipole regime is analyzed for a linearly polarized laser field. In the considered high-frequency and high-intensity stabilization regime, the photoelectron spectra are dominated by a near-zero-energy structure, while above-threshold ionization peaks are suppressed. Two sub-regimes in the nondipole case are identified based on the scaling of the Coulomb momentum transfer, when the Coulomb effect during the interaction with the laser field is either significant or minor. The Coulomb influenced regime sets in within the realm of relatively low field strengths, high laser frequencies, and long pulse durations. An intuitive model explaining the distinct features in the photoelectron momentum distributions and the Coulomb effect scaling is provided.