Measurement of the local laser intensity by photoelectron energy shifts in multiphoton ionization

Abstract

We present the use of a new technique to measure the local intensity present at the laser focus. The technique is based on the ponderomotive energy shift of photoelectrons produced by multiphoton ionization with a short laser pulse. If the laser intensity is sufficient to saturate the ionization probability, the technique may be used to determine multiphoton-ionization cross sections accurately. Measurements of cross sections using this technique for the four-photon ionization of krypton at 293 nm are presented.

© 1989 Optical Society of America

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