Femtosecond laser pulse Attosecond pulse train

Generation and Application of Attosecond pulse trains

Generation Application

Measure andcontrol electron

dynamics

Controlledsequences of

attosecond pulses

Anne L’Huillier

• Easier, more signal• Complementary tool• Possibility of control

Femtosecond laser pulse Attosecond pulse train

~1014 W cm-2

•Pulse separation

•Central photon energy

•Number of pulses

•Pulse duration (metallic filter- Mansten et al. OL 2007)

Controlled sequences of attosecond pulses

Time (as)

E-fie

ld (a

. u.)

Time (as)

Attosecond pulse trains using a two-color field

1.3 fs 2.7 fs

Attosecond pulse trains using a two-color field

Energy (eV)

Odd harmonics Even and odd harmonics

Energy (eV)

Inen

sity

(a. u

.)

Spec

tral

mea

sure

men

tsTe

mpo

ral m

easu

rem

ents

Delay Delay

Streaking Trace

Mauritsson et al., PRL 2006

1 cycle 1 cycle

Return time (T)0 0.5 1

Kine

tic e

nerg

y

3 Up

Attosecond pulse trains using a two-color field

Return time (T)0 0.5 1

Kine

tic e

nerg

y

0 1 2

20

28

36

ϕ (p rad)

Ene

rgy

(eV

)

20 28 360

1

Energy (eV)

Inte

nsity

(a. u

.)

0 1 2

20 28 36

ϕ (p

Relative phase (π rad)0 1 2

20

28

36

ϕ (p rad)

Ene

rgy

(eV

)

20 28 360

1

Energy (eV)

Inte

nsity

(a. u

.)

0 1 2

20 28 36

ϕ (pRelative phase (π rad)

Ener

gy (e

V)

Energy (eV)

Inte

nsity

Mansten et al., NJP, 2008

Photon Energy (eV)

Inte

nsi

ty (

arb

. u.)

0 20 40 60 80 100

Argon + Aluminum

170 as

López-Martens, PRL, 2005

Photon Energy (eV)

Inte

nsi

ty (

arb

. u.)

0 20 40 60 80 100

Neon + Zirconium

130 as

Gustafsson , Opt. Lett., 2007

Photon Energy (eV)

Inte

nsi

ty (

arb

. u.)

0 20 40 60 80 100

Xenon + Aluminum

Central energy of attosecond pulse trains

370 as

Johnsson, PRL, 2007

Sansone, Science 2006

Short driving field Attosecond pulse train

Short attosecond pulse trains

ETH Zurich

•12 fs

•CEO stabilized

Short attosecond pulse trains

Inte

nsity

Inte

nsity

Inte

nsity

Inte

nsity

Time Energy

2max.sec pulsesNN

Short attosecond pulse trains : Multiple pulse interferences

2max.sec pulsesNN

Short attosecond pulse trains : Multiple pulse interferences

Inte

nsity

(a. u

.)

0

1

Energy (eV)25 35 45

Short attosecond pulse trains : Multiple pulse interferences

CEO- dependence

Pfeifer et al. OE 2006Sansone et al., 2004

Femtosecond laser pulse Attosecond pulse train

•Pulse separation

•Number of pulses, down to one

•Central photon energy

•Pulse duration (metallic filter)

Controlled sequences of attosecond pulses

Attosecond pulse train

synchronized with infrared field

Measurement and control of electron dynamics

beamsplitter

1 kHz pulsedvalve

filterwheel

focusingmirror

toroidalmirror

recombinationmirror

delaystage

4 mJ, 35 fs800 nmTi:Saph

electrondetection

Streaking with an attosecond pulse train (1 pulse / cycle)

Ar

Itatani et al., PRL 2002Mairesse, Quéré, PRA 2005Kienberger, Science 2002Sansone, Science 2006

o Higher signal- Coherent superposition Imaging

o Simulates an electron wave packet moving in a laser field

o Quantum stroboscope

130 as

Mauritsson et al., PRL 2008

Rescattering of the electron by the atomic potential

He strong field

Coherent electron scattering with a train of attosecond wave packets

Corkum, Ivanov et al. Diffraction by returning wp

Characterization of attosecond pulses in a train

Paul et al. Science 2001

atq

atqqq 222

The sideband signal oscillates as

D

elay

(fs)

-10

-5

0

5

1

0

Weak field

1012 W/cm2

RABITT technique

17 19 21 23 25

Harmonic Order q

q+2

small

Ar

Characterization of attosecond pulses

Mairesse et al. Science 2003López-Martens et al., PRL 2005at

qatqqq 222

The sideband signal oscillates as

small

Return time (T)0 0.5 1

Kine

tic e

nerg

y

3 Up

Characterization of continuum wave packet

atq

atqqq 222

The sideband signal oscillates as

3p

)(He

796 nm

812 nm

Hässler et al., 2009

The sideband signal oscillates as

3p

)(IHe

1010

3x1012

Characterization of continuum wave packet

atq

atqqq 222

AC- Stark shift of the 3p state

3p

Probe

Clock

Femtosecond laser pulse Attosecond pulse train

Generation and Application of Attosecond pulse trains

Generation Application

Measure andcontrol electron

dynamics

Controlledsequences of

attosecond pulses

• Easier, more signal• Complementary tool• Possibility of control

Johan MauritssonPer JohnssonMathieu GisselbrechtErik ManstenMarko SwobodaThomas FordellKathrin KlünderMarcus Dahlström

FOM, Amsterdam:Marc Vrakking

LSU:Kenneth J. SchaferMette B Gaarde

ETH, Zurich:Ursula Keller

Polytechnico Milan:Mauro Nisoli

He

Attosecond control of ionization

Johnsson, PRL, 2007

Rivière, NJP, 2009