Angular distribution of electrons from multiphoton ionization by an elliptically polarized laser field

We present a high-intensity theory of the angular distribution of electrons from multiphoton ionization by an elliptically polarized laser field in which the initial state is described by a dressed atomic state and the final state by a Coulomb scattering state. The essential approximation is the neglect of the Coulomb interaction compared to the electron-laser interaction in the intermediate state. We find the destruction of ``twofold'' symmetry, as in a recent experiment, and qualitative agreement with that experiment. Extensive results for various photon numbers, polarization angles, and intensities are presented. We also compare distributions from initial S states with those from initial P states with some surprising results.