Empirical formula for static field ionization rates of atoms and molecules by lasers in the barrier-suppression regime

We propose an empirical formula for the static field ionization rates of atoms and molecules by extending the well-known analytical tunnelling ionization rates to the barrier-suppression regime. The validity of this formula is checked against ionization rates calculated from solving the Schroedinger equation for a number of atoms and ions. The empirical formula retains the simplicity of the original tunnelling ionization rate expression but can be used to calculate the ionization rates of atoms and molecules by lasers at high intensities