Magnetic field effect on tunnel ionization of deep impurities by terahertz radiation

A suppression of tunnelling ionization of deep impurities in terahertz frequency electric fields by a magnetic field is observed. It is shown that the ionization probability at external magnetic field, B, oriented perpendicular to the electric field of terahertz radiation, E, is substantially smaller than that at B parallel to E. The effect occurs at low temperatures and high magnetic fields. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.