Multiple ionization of argon atoms by long-wavelength laser radiation: a fermion molecular dynamics simulation

We applied the method known as fermion molecular dynamics to the descriptio n of an isolated argon atom interacting with a shea pulse of intense, long- wavelength laser radiation, for both linear and circular polarization. We d iscuss the results of these calculations, insofar as they bear on the mecha nisms leading to the production of high-ionic-charge states during laser-at om interaction.