Quantum versus semi-classical signatures of correlated triple ionization in Dalitz plots

Abstract: We investigate correlated three-electron escape in Ne when driven by an intense, infrared laser field. We do so by employing a reduced-dimensionality quantum-mechanical model and two three-dimensional semi-classical models. One semi-classical model is a recently developed one that accounts with effective coulomb potentials for the interaction between two bound electrons (ECBB) while it fully accounts for all other interactions. The other semi-classical model is the Heisenberg one, which effectively accounts for the interaction of each electron with the core via a soft-core potential. We identify and compare the signatures of correlated three-electron escape for both quantum and semi-classical models on Dalitz plots and find a better agreement between the quantum and the ECBB model. We also show that a central spot'' on the Dalitz plots is reproduced by all models. Using the ECBB model we associate thisspot'' with the direct triple ionization pathway and argue this to be the case also for the quantum model. Devising a simple classical model that accounts for the direct pathway of triple ionization, we show that the width of this spot in the Dalitz plots solely depends on the time of tunnel-ionization.