Dehua Wang

Photodetachment of the H− ion in a linear time-dependent electric field

Using the time-dependent closed orbit theory, we study the photodetachment of the H− ion in a linear time-dependent electric field for the first time. An analytical formula for calculating the time-dependent photodetachment cross section of this system has been put forward. It is found when the external electric field changes very slowly with time, there is only one closed orbit of the detached electron and the photodetachment cross section is quite stable. However, when the electric field changes quickly with time, three different types of closed orbits are found and the photodetachment cross section oscillates in a much more complex way. The connection of each type of closed orbit with the oscillatory structure in the photodetachment cross section is analyzed quantitatively. In addition, the photon energy and the laser field parameters can also have great influence on the time-dependent photodetachment cross section of this system. This study provides a clear and intuitive picture for the photodetachment dynamics of a negative ion in the presence of a time-dependent electric field and may guide future experimental studies exploring the quantum effect in the photodetachment dynamics of negative ions from a time-dependent viewpoint.

Photoionization microscopy of Rydberg hydrogen atom in a non-uniform electrical field*

In this paper, we investigate the photoionization microscopy of the Rydberg hydrogen atom in a gradient electric field for the first time. The observed oscillatory patterns in the photoionization microscopy are explained within the framework of the semiclassical theory, which can be considered as a manifestation of interference between various electron trajectories arriving at a given point on the detector plane. In contrast with the photoionization microscopy in the uniform electric field, the trajectories of the ionized electron in the gradient electric field will become chaotic. An infinite set of different electron trajectories can arrive at a given point on the detector plane, which makes the interference pattern of the electron probability density distribution extremely complicated. Our calculation results suggest that the oscillatory pattern in the electron probability density distribution depends sensitively on the electric field gradient, the scaled energy and the position of the detector plane. Through our research, we predict that the interference pattern in the electron probability density distribution can be observed in an actual photoionization microscopy experiment once the external electric field strength and the position of the electron detector plane are reasonable. This study provides some references for the future experimental research on the photoionization microscopy of the Rydberg atom in the non-uniform external fields.

Photoionization microscopy of Rydberg hydrogen atom near a dielectric surface

Based on the semiclassical analysis of photoionization microscopy, we study the ionization of the Rydberg hydrogen atom near a dielectric surface. The radial electron probability density distributions on a given detector plane are calculated at different scaled energies and near different dielectric surfaces. We find due to the interference effect of different types of electron trajectories arriving at a given point on the detector plane, oscillatory structures appear in the electron probability density distributions. With the increase in the scaled energy, more types of electron ionization trajectories appear and the oscillatory structure in the electron probability density distributions becomes complex. Besides, the dielectric constant of the dielectric surface can also affect the electron probability density distributions. Since the photoionization microscopy interference pattern recorded on the detector plane reflects the distribution of the square modulus of the transverse component of the electronic wave function, with the recorded interference pattern, we can investigate the ionization dynamics of the Rydberg atom near surfaces clearly. This study provides some reference values for the future experiment research on the photoionization microscopy of the Rydberg atom near dielectric surfaces.

Escape of photo-detached electron from an annular nanomicrocavity

The escaped probability density of the photo-detached electron in an annular nanomicrocavity shows strong oscillations as a function of the length of the escape orbits. We present a semiclassical theory that describes theses oscillations in terms of bundles of escape orbits. Due to the interference effects of the electron waves travelling along different escaped orbits, oscillatory structures appear in the escaped probability density. In addition, the calculation results suggest that the escaped probability density of the photo-detached electron is not only related to the inner radius of the annular microcavity, but also related to the laser polarization. In order to show the correspondence between the escaped probability density and the detached electron’s escaped orbits clearly, we calculate the Fourier transformed semiclassical wave function and find that the peak positions agree well with the length of the detached electron’s orbits. We hope that our results will be useful in understanding the escape and propagation process of particles through semiconductor microjunctions or ballistic microstructure.

Electric Field Control of the Photodetachment of H − Ion near a Repulsive Center

The influence of electric field on the photodetachment of H− ion near a repulsive center is investigated for the first time. The classical motion of the detached electron has been studied and the photodetachment cross section has been derived. It is found that the electric field has significant effect on the photodetachment of H− ion near a repulsive center. If the electric field is put upward, the electric field force acting on the detached electron has an opposite direction with the Coulomb repulsive force. Under this condition, the motion of the detached electron is relatively complex. Both the number of the closed orbits and the oscillating structure of the photodetachment cross section depend on the electric field strength. If the electric field is put downward, the electric field force acting on the detached electron has the same direction with the Coulomb repulsive force. Under this circumstance, the electric field can always strengthen the oscillation in the photodetachment cross section. Therefor...

Coherent control of photodetachment of H− in an electric field near a metal surface

We show that the photodetachment of H− in an electric field near a metal surface can be controlled by using a single or double laser pulse. The method of theoretical analysis used is semi-classical closed orbit theory. The results show that if the period of a certain closed orbit is longer than the pulse width of the single-pulse laser, the contribution of that closed orbit to the photodetachment cross-section will be greatly reduced. As for the double-pulse laser, the pulse width, phase difference and the time delay between the two pulses all play an important role in the photodetachment cross-section. With the decrease of the time delay, the oscillating amplitude of the cross-section increases while the oscillating frequency decreases. Therefore, laser pulses can be used to control the photodetachment process of negative ions or atoms in an external field near metal surfaces.