Resonance dynamics of DCO (X̃ A′2) simulated with the dynamically pruned discrete variable representation (DP-DVR)

Control of concerted back-to-back double ionization dynamics in helium

Double ionization (DI) is a fundamental process that despite its apparent simplicity provides rich opportunities for probing and controlling the electronic motion. Even for the simplest multielectron atom, helium, new DI mechanisms are still being found. To first order in the field strength, a strong external field doubly ionizes the electrons in helium such that they are ejected into the same direction (front-to-back motion). The ejection into opposite directions (back-to-back motion) cannot be described to first order, making it a challenging target for control. Here, we address this challenge and optimize the field with the objective of back-to-back double ionization using a (1 + 1)-dimensional model. The optimization is performed using four different control procedures: (1) short-time control, (2) derivative-free optimization of basis expansions of the field, (3) the Krotov method, and (4) control of the classical equations of motion. All four procedures lead to fields with dominant back-to-back motion. All the fields obtained exploit essentially the same two-step mechanism leading to back-to-back motion: first, the electrons are displaced by the field into the same direction. Second, after the field turns off, the nuclear attraction and the electron-electron repulsion combine to generate the final motion into opposite directions for each electron. By performing quasi-classical calculations, we confirm that this mechanism is essentially classical.

Moving Boundary Truncated Grid Method: Application to the Time Evolution of Distribution Functions in Phase Space

The moving boundary truncated grid (TG) method, previously developed to integrate the time-dependent Schrödinger equation and the imaginary time Schrödinger equation, is extended to the time evolution of distribution functions in phase space. A variable number of phase space grid points in the Eulerian representation are used to integrate the equation of motion for the distribution function, and the boundaries of the TG are adaptively determined as the distribution function evolves in time. Appropriate grid points are activated and deactivated for propagation of the distribution function, and no advance information concerning the dynamics in phase space is required. The TG method is used to integrate the equations of motion for phase space distribution functions, including the Klein-Kramers, Wigner-Moyal, and modified Caldeira-Leggett equations. Even though the initial distribution function is nonnegative, the solutions to the Wigner-Moyal and modified Caldeira-Leggett equations may develop negative basins in phase space originating from interference effects. Trajectory-based methods for propagation of the distribution function do not permit the formation of negative regions. However, the TG method can correctly capture the negative basins. Comparisons between the computational results obtained from the full grid and TG calculations demonstrate that the TG method not only significantly reduces the computational effort but also permits accurate propagation of various distribution functions in phase space.