Generation and Application of

Attosecond pulse trains

Anne L’Huillier

Femtosecond laser pulse Attosecond pulse train

Generation Application

• Easier, more signal Controlled Measure and

• Complementary tool sequences of control electron
• Possibility of control
attosecond pulses dynamics
 Controlled sequences of attosecond pulses

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)
 Attosecond pulse trains using a two-color field

1.3 fs 2.7 fs
E-field (a. u.)

Time Time
(as) (as)
 Attosecond pulse trains using a two-color field
Spectral measurements

Odd harmonics Even and odd harmonics

Inensity (a. u.)

Energy (eV) Energy (eV)

Temporal measurements

Streaking
Trace

1 cycle 1 cycle
Delay Delay
Mauritsson et al., PRL 2006
 Attosecond pulse trains using a two-color field

3 Up

Kinetic energy
Kinetic energy

36

Energy (eV)
28

0 0.5 1 0 0.5 1
Return time (T) 20 Return time (T)
0 1 2 0
ϕ (p rad)

36 1

Intensity (a. u.)

(eV)
Energy(eV)

Intensity
Energy

28

0
20 28 36 2
20 Energy (eV)
Energy (eV)
0 1 2 0 1 2
ϕ (p
Relative
Relative rad)
phase
phase(π rad)
(π rad) ϕMansten
(p rad) et al., NJP, 2008
Intensity (arb. u.)
Central energy of attosecond pulse trains

170 as
Argon + López-Martens, PRL, 2005
Aluminum
Sansone, Science 2006
0 20 40 60 80 100
Photon Energy (eV)
Intensity (arb. u.)

130 as
Neon + Gustafsson , Opt. Lett., 2007
Zirconium

0 20 40 60 80 100
Photon Energy (eV)
Intensity (arb. u.)

370 as
Johnsson, PRL, 2007
Xenon +
Aluminum

0 20 40 60 80 100
Photon Energy (eV)
 Short attosecond pulse trains

Short driving field Attosecond pulse train

ETH Zurich
•12 fs
•CEO stabilized
Short attosecond pulse trains
Short attosecond pulse trains : Multiple pulse interferences
Time Energy

Intensity
Intensity
Intensity
Intensity

N sec. max  N pulses  2

Short attosecond pulse trains : Multiple pulse interferences

N sec. max  N pulses  2

Short attosecond pulse trains : Multiple pulse interferences

CEO- dependence
1
Intensity (a. u.)

0 Pfeifer et al. OE 2006

25 35 45 Sansone et al., 2004
Energy (eV)
 Controlled sequences of attosecond pulses

Femtosecond laser pulse Attosecond pulse train

•Pulse separation
•Number of pulses, down to one
•Central photon energy
•Pulse duration (metallic filter)
 Measurement and control of electron dynamics
Attosecond pulse train
synchronized with infrared field

toroidal electron
mirror detection
recombination
mirror

1 kHz pulsed
focusing valve
mirror filter delay
wheel stage

4 mJ, 35 fs beamsplitter
800 nm
Ti:Saph
 Streaking with an attosecond pulse train (1 pulse / cycle)

Ar o Higher signal- Coherent superposition

Imaging
Itatani et al., PRL 2002
Mairesse, Quéré, PRA 2005
o Simulates an electron wave packet moving in a
Kienberger, Science 2002
laser field
Sansone, Science 2006
o Quantum stroboscope
 Coherent electron scattering with a train of attosecond
wave packets

He strong field

130 as

Rescattering of the
electron by the atomic
potential

Corkum, Ivanov et al. Mauritsson et al.,

Diffraction by returning wp PRL 2008
 Characterization of attosecond pulses in a train

Weak field
1012 W/cm2
5 10

RABITT technique
Delay (fs)

Paul et al. Science 2001

0
-10 -5

q+2
17 19 21 23 25
Harmonic Order q

The sideband signal oscillates as

2  q2  q   at
q2  at
q
Ar
small
 Characterization of attosecond pulses

3 Up

Kinetic energy
0 0.5 1
Return time (T)

Mairesse et al.
Science 2003
The sideband signal oscillates as López-Martens et

2  q2  q  
al., PRL 2005
at
q2  at
q

small
 Characterization of continuum wave packet

812 nm

796 nm

3p

The sideband signal oscillates as

2  q2  q  atq2  atq

He
( )
Hässler et al., 2009
 Characterization of continuum wave packet

3x1012

1010

3p

The sideband signal oscillates as

2  q2  q  atq2  atq

He
(I )
AC- Stark shift of the 3p state

Clock

3p

Probe
 Generation and Application of
Attosecond pulse trains

Femtosecond laser pulse Attosecond pulse train

Generation Application

• Easier, more signal Controlled Measure and

• Complementary tool sequences of control electron
• Possibility of control
attosecond pulses dynamics
Johan Mauritsson
Per Johnsson
Mathieu Gisselbrecht
Erik Mansten
Marko Swoboda
Thomas Fordell
Kathrin Klünder
Marcus Dahlström
ETH, Zurich:
Ursula Keller
FOM, Amsterdam:
Marc Vrakking

Polytechnico Milan:
Mauro Nisoli

LSU:
Kenneth J. Schafer
Mette B Gaarde
Attosecond control of ionization

He

Johnsson, PRL, 2007

Rivière, NJP, 2009