Stark ionization of hydrogen in the n=2 level. Asymmetry in the final transverse velocity

Abstract

The effect of orbital momentum in the strong field ionization of a hydrogen atom is considered. When the atom is in the 2P state an asymmetrical distribution in the transverse velocity v T , similar to the Collins effect in quark fragmentation, is predicted : ⟨v T ⟩ points in the direction of E × ⟨L⟩. However, the Stark efffect produces oscillations of the average orbital angular momentum ⟨L T ⟩, therefore of ⟨v T ⟩.