Angular distribution of electrons in multiphoton ionisation of polarised Lithium atoms

•The general expression for an amplitude of multiphoton ionisation of a polarised atomic p-state is derived.•The effect of linear magnetic dichroism in three-photon ionisation of polarised Lithium atom is investigated.•The relative magnitude of the linear magnetic dichroism is expected to be about 30%.

The asymmetry of the angular distributions of photoelectrons in the photoionisation of polarised alkali atoms is investigated. The general formulas for the amplitude of the multiphoton ionisation of np-states are given. In these formulas the dynamical and kinematical factors are explicitly separated. Our calculations within Fues model potential approach demonstrate that, under the experimental conditions essentially similar to those employed in [M. Schuricke, Ganjun Zhu, J. Steinmann, K. Simeonidis, I. Ivanov, A. Kheifets, A.N. Grum-Grzhimailo, K. Bartschat, A. Dorn, J. Ullrich, Phys. Rev. A 83 (2011) 023413(11)], the relative magnitude of the linear magnetic dichroism in three-photon ionisation of Li can be as large as 30%.