Paper detail

Non-exponential tunneling ionization of atoms by an intense laser field

We discuss the possibility of non-exponential tunneling ionization of atoms irradiated by intense laser field. This effect can occur at times, which are greater than the lifetime of a system under consideration. The mechanism for non-exponential depletion of an initial quasi-stationary state is the cutting of the energy spectrum of final continuous states at long times. We first consider the known examples of cold emission of electrons from metal, tunneling alpha-decay of atomic nuclei, spontaneous decay in two-level systems and the single-photon atomic ionization by a weak electromagnetic field. The new physical situation discussed is tunneling ionization of atoms by a strong low-frequency electromagnetic field. In this case the decay obeys ~1/t power-law dependence on the (long) interaction times.