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Cause of tunnel-exit momentum offset: initial-state wavefunction versus tunneling imprint

Ascertain whether the photoelectron momentum offset along the light-propagation direction at the tunnel exit during strong-field ionization of chiral molecules is caused by the initial bound-state wavefunction or is imprinted on the photoelectron flux during the tunneling process.

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Background

The authors use a heuristic model that combines SFA tunneling with classical propagation in an achiral Coulomb potential and introduces a small longitudinal momentum offset at the tunnel exit to match experimental observations. They explicitly state that while the model explains several features, it does not resolve whether the observed offset originates from the initial bound-state wavefunction or is generated during tunneling, leaving this as an unresolved question.

References

One price to be paid for this simplistic but transparent modelling is that it does not have predictive power on the sign of that asymmetry. It also doesn't answer the question whether the offset is a caused by the initial state wavefunction or is imprinted onto the photoelectron flux during tunneling.

— Sub-cycle resolved strong field ionization of chiral molecules and the origin of chiral photoelectron asymmetries (2402.03215 - Hofmann et al., 5 Feb 2024) in Main text, Model limitations paragraph (page 3–4)