Above-Threshold Ionization by Elliptically Polarized 1.06um Laser Light

We have investigated the elliptical polarization dependence of Above-Threshold Ionization (ATI) in xenon and krypton. Photoelectron energy spectra were obtained for constant beam intensity and varying polarization retardation, for electrons emitted along them major axes of the polarization ellipse. The suppression of low energy ATI peaks, previously reported for circulatory polarized light, is not observed unless the polarization is better than 97% pure circular.