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Carrier envelope phase effects in ultrafast, strong-field ionization dynamics of multielectron systems: Xe and CS$_2$

Carrier envelope phase (CEP) stabilized 5 fs and 22 fs pulses of intense 800 nm light are used to probe the strong-field ionization dynamics of multielectron entities, xenon and carbon disulfide. We compare ion yields obtained with and without CEP-stabilization: with 8-cycle (22 fs) pulses, Xe$^{6+}$ yields are suppressed (relative to Xe$^+$ yields) by between 30% and 50%, depending on phase, reflecting the phase dependence of non-sequential ionization and its contribution to the formation of higher charge states. On the other hand, ion yields for Xe$^{q+}$ ($q$=2-4) with CEP-stablized pulses are enhanced (by up to 50%) compared to those with CEP-unstabilized pulses. Such enhancment is particulary pronounced with 2-cycle (5 fs) pulses and is distinctly phase-dependent. Orbital shape and symmetry are found to have a bearing on the response of CS$_2$ to variations in optical field that are effected as CE phase is controllably altered, keeping the overall intensity constant. Molecular fragmentation is found to depend on field strength (not intensity); the observed relative enhancement of fragmentation when CEP-stabilized 2-cycle pulses are used is found to be at the expense of molecular ionization.