DYNAMICS OF LASER EXCITATION, IONIZATION AND HARMONIC CONVERSION IN INERT-GAS ATOMS

Studies of non-perturbative multiphoton processes in atoms in pulsed l aser fields employ a single-active-electron (SAE) model which follows the time evolution of each valence electron in the frozen, mean-field of the remaining electrons, the nucleus and the laser field. The photo electron and photon emission spectra, although related, are not identi cal. A simple two-step, quasi-classical model explains the differences and gives a more complete understanding of the strong field induced d ynamics.