diff --git a/src/particles/plasma/PlasmaParticleContainer.cpp b/src/particles/plasma/PlasmaParticleContainer.cpp
index 88f0cfcdea..6224192852 100644
--- a/src/particles/plasma/PlasmaParticleContainer.cpp
+++ b/src/particles/plasma/PlasmaParticleContainer.cpp
@@ -675,10 +675,11 @@ LaserIonization (const int islice,
                     Ep *= E0;
                     amrex::Real delta = std::sqrt(Ep) * laser_dp_prefactor[ion_lev_loc];
                     amrex::Real delta2 = delta * delta;
-                    amrex::Real width_p = amrex::abs(A) * delta * (1 - (3./4.) * delta2 - (3./2.) * delta2 + laser_dp_second_prefactor[ion_lev_loc] * delta2);
+                    amrex::Real width_p = amrex::abs(A) * delta * (1._rt - (3._rt/4._rt) * delta2
+                        - (3._rt/2._rt) * delta2 + laser_dp_second_prefactor[ion_lev_loc] * delta2);
                     amrex::Real p_pol = amrex::RandomNormal(0.0, width_p, engine);
                     ux = p_pol; // linear polarization is assumed along x.
-                    uz = (amrex::abs(A * A) / 4._rt + p_pol * p_pol / 2._rt);
+                    uz = (amrex::abs(A * A) * 0.25_rt + p_pol * p_pol * 0.5_rt);
                 } else {
                     amrex::Real const angle = amrex::Random(engine) * 2._rt * MathConst::pi;
                     // A_t = A (e_x +/- i e_y) in circular polarization.