ETRAJ.JL: Trajectory-based simulation for strong-field ionization

Mingyu Zhu, Hongcheng Ni, Jian Wu

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

The dynamics of light-matter interactions in the realm of strong-field ionization has been a focal point and has attracted widespread interest. We present the eTraj.jl program package, designed to implement established classical/semiclassical trajectory-based methods to determine the photoelectron momentum distribution resulting from strong-field ionization of both atoms and molecules. The program operates within a unified theoretical framework that separates the trajectory-based computation into two stages: initial-condition preparation and trajectory evolution. For initial-condition preparation, we provide several methods, including the Strong-Field Approximation with Saddle-Point Approximation (SFA-SPA), SFA-SPA with Non-adiabatic Expansion (SFA-SPANE), and the Ammosov-Delone-Krainov theory (ADK), with atomic and molecular variants, as well as the Weak-Field Asymptotic Theory (WFAT) for molecules. For trajectory evolution, available options are Classical Trajectory Monte-Carlo (CTMC), which employs purely classical electron trajectories, and the Quantum Trajectory Monte-Carlo (QTMC) and Semi-Classical Two-Step model (SCTS), which include the quantum phase during trajectory evolution. The program is a versatile, efficient, flexible, and out-of-the-box solution for trajectory-based simulations for strong-field ionization. It is designed with user-friendliness in mind and is expected to serve as a valuable and powerful tool for the community of strong-field physics. Program summary: Program title: eTraj.jl CPC Library link to program files: https://doi.org/10.17632/33fm297cz4.1 Developer's repository link: https://github.com/TheStarAlight/eTraj.jl Licensing provisions: Apache-2.0 Programming language: Julia Nature of problem: Atoms and molecules exposed in an intense laser field go through complex processes of ionization through mechanisms such as multi-photon ionization and tunneling ionization. The trajectory-based methods are powerful tools for simulating these processes, and have considerable advantages over the time-dependent Schrödinger equation (TDSE) and the strong-field approximation (SFA). However, the community lacks a unified theoretical framework for trajectory-based methods, and there are no public-available code that implements the schemes. Solution method: We developed a general, efficient, flexible, and out-of-the-box solution for trajectory-based simulation program named after eTraj.jl using the Julia programming language. This program conducts trajectory-based classical/semiclassical simulations of photoelectron dynamics under the single-active-electron approximation and the Born-Oppenheimer approximation. It supports multiple methods, including the SFA-SPA, SFA-SPANE, ADK and WFAT for initial condition preparation. Additionally, it incorporates the CTMC, QTMC and SCTS methods for trajectory evolution. The program is written in a clear and concise manner, and features versatility, extensibility, and usability. Additional comments including restrictions and unusual features: A detailed documentation is available at https://thestaralight.github.io/eTraj.jl/stable/. The package has been tested for compatibility with Julia versions 1.9 to 1.11 and is expected to remain compatible with newer Julia versions released after the test date.

Original languageEnglish
Article number109549
JournalComputer Physics Communications
Volume311
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 2025

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