Comparison between Jacobi-Anger and saddle point methods to treat Above-threshold ionization

Abstract

We present a detailed comparison of theoretical approaches for modeling strong-field ionization by few-cycle laser pulses. The dipole approximation is shown to accurately capture interference structures in photoelectron spectra, while non-dipole effects introduce significant momentum shifts along the propagation direction. Two complementary analytical methods are used: the Jacobi-Anger expansion provides complete spectral decomposition of transition amplitudes, whereas the saddle-point method efficiently identifies dominant ionization pathways. Through this comparative study within the strong-field approximation framework, we establish validity conditions and practical advantages for each approach. Our results provide guidelines for selecting theoretical methods for advancing the interpretation of strong-field processes. These findings provide a roadmap for interpreting strong-field ionization spectra and momentum distributions, highlighting where non-dipole effects and method choice critically alter predictions.

35 pages, 10 figures