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Up to quadruply charged ions are induced in Xe atoms by a 50-psec laser pulse at 0. 53 in the 10^12 W cm^-2 range. The mechanism of the formation of Xe^2+ ions is elucidated. In the lowest intensity range, Xe^2+ ions are produced by direct 15-photon absorption from the ground state of the atoms, while at a higher intensity Xe^2+ ions are produced by a stepwise process via Xe^+ ions. These two processes take place at distinctly different intensities. A kinetic model using rate equations affords a good fit with experimental results. Moreover, for the first time it was possible to obtain the multiphoton ionization cross sections related to the two-electron removal from Xe atoms, as well as the one-electron removal from Xe^+ ions.
L’Huillier et al. (1983) studied this question.