Tunnel Ionization of Heavy Atoms in Parallel Electric and Magnetic Fields

Abstract

In the framework of the paraxial Fock-Leontovich approximation the three-dimensional version of WKB method is elaborated for solving the Dirac equation with axially symmetrical potentials, which do not permit the complete separation of variables. By means of this approach the relativistic wave functions for the H-like atom in the parallel constant uniform electric and magnetic fields are constructed in the below-barrier and classically allowed ranges. General analytical expression for probability of ionization of the atom in the external electric and magnetic fields is obtained. The comparison of the found formulas with results known previously is carried out.