We describe a quantum mechanical framework for the calculation of angle-and energy-resolved photoelectron flux in pump probe scenarios. The theory spans the limits of weak-to-strong field-matter interaction range and the ladder of transitions to al!angular momentum states. It allows insight into the type of information that can be extracted from time-resolved photoelectron distributions with regard to the wavepacket dynamics in the probed manifold. In the strong pump case it suggests the possibility of gaining insight also regarding the ionization dynamics, complementary to that extracted from weak-field CW studies. Various limits and several averaged observables are discussed and an efficient computational method is suggested. (C) 1997 American Institute of Physics.