Ionization of argon by two-color laser pulses with coherent phase control

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We present a joint experimental and theoretical study of ionization of argon atoms by a linearly polarized two-color laser field (λ₁=800 nm, λ₂=400 nm). Changing the relative phase φ between the two colors, the forward-backward asymmetry of the doubly differential momentum distribution of emitted electrons can be controlled. We find excellent agreement between the measurements and the solution of the time-dependent Schr\"odinger equation in the single-active electron approximation. Surprisingly we also find good agreement between the quantum and classical calculations of electron momentum distributions generated by lasers at optical wavelengths.