Classical description of strong-field double ionization by elliptical laser pulses

Sequential double ionization of argon induced by elliptically polarized laser pulses at the over-the-barrier ionization regime is investigated with a fully classical model. We provide futher detail beyond that found in our previous paper [Phys. Rev. Lett. 109, 053004 (2012)] and show that all of the experimental observations, including the evolution of the ion momentum spectra as a function of laser intensity, the intensity-dependent ratio for the parallel and antiparallel electron emissions, and the release times of both electrons for various laser pulses, are excellently reproduced by our classical model. Our results indicate that the classical treatment is very valid and accurate in describing strong-field ionization, providing a simple and intuitive way to investigate the complex electron correlations in strong-field double and multiple ionizations.