Exact solution of the Schrodinger equation for photoemission from a metal

arXiv1911.00201MaRDI QIDQ6328338FDOQ6328338

Authors: O. Costin, R. D. Costin, Ian Jauslin, Joel Lebowitz 

Publication date: 1 November 2019

Abstract: We solve rigorously the time dependent Schr"odinger equation describing electron emission from a metal surface by a laser field perpendicular to the surface. We consider the system to be one-dimensional, with the half-line $x<0$ corresponding to the bulk of the metal and $x>0$ to the vacuum. The laser field is modeled as a classical electric field oscillating with frequency $omega$, acting only at $x>0$. We consider an initial condition which is a stationary state of the system without a field, and, at time $t=0$, the field is switched on. We prove the existence of a solution $psi(x,t)$ of the Schr"odinger equation for $t>0$, and compute the surface current. The current exhibits a complex oscillatory behavior, which is not captured by the "simple" three step scenario. As $toinfty$, $psi(x,t)$ converges with a rate $t^{-frac32}$ to a time periodic function with period $frac2piomega$ which coincides with that found by Faisal, Kami'nski and Saczuk (Phys Rev A 72, 023412, 2015). However, for realistic values of the parameters, we have found that it can take quite a long time (over 50 laser periods) for the system to converge to its asymptote. Of particular physical importance is the current averaged over a laser period $frac2piomega$, which exhibits a dramatic increase when $hbaromega$ becomes larger than the work function of the metal, which is consistent with the original photoelectric effect.

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