Dynamics and interference of autoionizing wave packets - art. no. 043401

We extend earlier theoretical work on the creation of autoionizing wave pac kets by a single laser pulse to the case where the autoionizing states are excited by two or more laser pulses. The calculations are performed using R -matrix methods combined with time-dependent multichannel quantum-defect th eory. Atoms or molecules that are coherently excited into autoionizing stat es emit electrons in a series of pulses. We have found that the phase does not change rapidly across an electron pulse if the laser has little chirp. By choosing the delay between the two laser pulses, we can have the electro n wave packets interfere. This interference can be exploited to partially c ontrol when the electron will be emitted and to partially control the time dependence of the channel into which it will be ejected. A comparison of th e interference of different ejected wave packets gives information about th e probability and phase to be initially excited into different channels.