Observation of two-XUV-photon ionization using harmonic generation from a short, intense laser pulse

Abstract
We report the observation of a two-photon ionization process in the XUV wavelength regime. In a near-resonant 1 + 1 ionization scheme, Ar atoms are ionized absorbing the 15 eV third harmonic photons produced in a gas jet by the 0.5 ps intense laser pulses of a KrF excimer laser emitting at 248.6 nm. The present demonstration of a non-linear process in the XUV regime reveals feasibility of high-intensity applications utilizing the uniquely high peak power of non-conventional short wavelength radiation sources based on harmonic generation.