Wave-packet excitation and quantum-beat spectroscopy of image-potential states

Ulrich Hoefer; I. L. Shumay; Ch. Reuss; U. Thomann; Thomas Fauster

doi:10.1117/12.307124

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30 April 1998 Wave-packet excitation and quantum-beat spectroscopy of image-potential states

Ulrich Hoefer, I. L. Shumay, Ch. Reuss, U. Thomann, Thomas Fauster

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Proceedings Volume 3272, Laser Techniques for Surface Science III; (1998) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.307124
Event: Optoelectronics and High-Power Lasers and Applications, 1998, San Jose, CA, United States

Abstract

The ultrafast dynamics of electrons in image-potential states on a Cu(100) surface is studied by means of femtosecond time-resolved two-photon photoemission (2PPE). By coherently exciting several eigenstates of the Rydberg series we observe periodic oscillations of the 2PPE signal as a function of the delay time between pump and probe pulses. These quantum beats allow us to determine the spacing of high-order states (quantum number n >= 4) that are difficult to resolve by conventional electron spectroscopy. The superposition of several states around n equals 7 creates an electron wave packet that describes the quasi-classical periodic motion of weakly bound electrons. Its distance from the surface is reflected in the strength of the photoemission signal. The electron is observed to move about 100 atomic distances away from the surface and oscillates back and forth with a period of 800 femtoseconds. The results demonstrate the power of coherent laser spectroscopy for surface studies.

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Ulrich Hoefer, I. L. Shumay, Ch. Reuss, U. Thomann, and Thomas Fauster "Wave-packet excitation and quantum-beat spectroscopy of image-potential states", Proc. SPIE 3272, Laser Techniques for Surface Science III, (30 April 1998); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.307124

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