First Benchmark of Relativistic Photoionization Theories against 3D ab initio Simulation

Photoelectron spectra and ionization rates encompassing relativistic intensities and hydrogenlike ions with relativistic binding energies are obtained using a quasiclassical S-matrix approach. These results, along with those based on the imaginary time method, are compared with three-dimensional, ½-period ab initio simulations for a wide range of ionization potentials and electric field amplitudes. Significant differences between the three results are demonstrated. Time-dependent simulations indicate that the peak ionization current can occur before the peak of the electric field.