Investigating tunnel and above-barrier ionization using complex-scaled coupled-cluster theory

The theory and implementation of the complex-scaled coupled-cluster method with singles and doubles excitations (cs-CCSD) for studying resonances induced by static electric fields are presented. Within this framework, Stark shifts and ionization rates are obtained directly from the real and imaginary parts of the complex energy. The method is applied to the ground states of hydrogen, helium, lithium, beryllium, neon, argon, and carbon at varying field strengths. Complex-scaled Hartree-Fock, second-order many-body perturbation theory, and CCSD results are reported and analyzed with a focus on the impact of electron correlation on the ionization process. cs-CCSD calculations with suitably augmented standard Gaussian basis sets are found to deliver accurate strong-field ionization rates over a range of six orders of magnitude. The field-induced resonances are characterized beyond energy and ionization rate through their dipole moments, second moments, as well as Dyson orbitals and comparisons are drawn to autoionizing and autodetaching resonances. Marked differences are found between the tunneling and above-barrier regimes allowing for a clear distinction of the two mechanisms. Published by AIP Publishing.