Mapping of attosecond ionization dynamics by recollision-free higher-order harmonic generation

Aart J. Verhoef; Alexander Mitrofanov; Evgenii E. Serebryannikov; Daniil V. Kartashov; Aleksei M. Zheltikov; Andrius Baltuska

doi:10.1117/12.823475

21 May 2009 Mapping of attosecond ionization dynamics by recollision-free higher-order harmonic generation

Aart J. Verhoef, Alexander Mitrofanov, Evgenii E. Serebryannikov, Daniil V. Kartashov, Aleksei M. Zheltikov, Andrius Baltuska

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 7354, Nonlinear Optics and Applications III; 73540U (2009) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.823475
Event: SPIE Optics + Optoelectronics, 2009, Prague, Czech Republic

Abstract

In the presence of a high-intensity optical field, electrons are released from atoms on an attosecond time scale. Moreover, in the tunnelling regime, this process displays a strong sensitivity to the carrier-envelope phase (CEP) of a few-cycle light pulse. Tunnelling ionization - a fascinating quantum mechanical phenomenon - leads to a quasi-stepwise increase of free electron density and, as a consequence, of the refractive index of the medium. These steps of the refractive index, corresponding to half-cycles of the driving optical field, impose a transient attosecond phase mask. By scattering probe light off this mask we detect quasi-periodic higher-order harmonics, the spectrum of which, unlike that of the harmonics originating from intrinsic nonlinearity or driven by electron re-collisions, do not depend on the probe intensity and recollision dynamics. The implemented noncollinear pump-probe experimental technique allows optical harmonics generated due to a tunnelling-ionization-induced modulation of the electric current to be spatially separated from the harmonics originating from atomic and ionic nonlinear susceptibilities, enabling background-free time-resolved detection of electron-tunnelling-controlled harmonic spectra and offering an attractive solution for attosecond optical metrology of gases and bulk solids.

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Aart J. Verhoef, Alexander Mitrofanov, Evgenii E. Serebryannikov, Daniil V. Kartashov, Aleksei M. Zheltikov, and Andrius Baltuska "Mapping of attosecond ionization dynamics by recollision-free higher-order harmonic generation", Proc. SPIE 7354, Nonlinear Optics and Applications III, 73540U (21 May 2009); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.823475

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