Probing two-path electron quantum interference in strong-field ionization with time-correlation filtering

Attosecond dynamics in strong-field tunnel ionization are encoded in intricate holographic patterns in the photoelectron momentum distributions. These patterns show the interference between two or more superposed quantum electron trajectories, which are defined by their ionization times and subsequent evolution in the laser field. We determine the ionization time separation between interfering pairs of electron orbits by performing a differential Fourier analysis on the measured momentum spectrum. We identify electron holograms formed by trajectory pairs whose ionization times are separated by less than a single quarter cycle, between a quarter cycle and half cycle, between a half cycle and three fourths of a cycle, and a full cycle apart. We compare our experimental results to the predictions of the Coulomb quantum orbit strong-field approximation (CQSFA) with significant success. We also time-filter the CQSFA trajectory calculations to demonstrate the validity of the technique on spectra with known time correlations. As a general analysis technique, the filter can be applied to all energy- and angularly resolved data sets to recover time correlations between interfering electron pathways, providing an important tool to analyze any strong-field ionization spectra. Moreover, it is independent of theory and can be applied directly to experiments, without the need of a direct comparison with orbit-based theoretical methods

Conservation laws for electron vortices in strong-field ionisation

We investigate twisted electrons with a well-defined orbital angular momentum, which have been ionised via a strong laser field. By formulating a new variant of the well-known strong field approximation, we are able to derive conservation laws for the angular momenta of twisted electrons in the cases of linear and circularly polarised fields. In the case of linear fields, we demonstrate that the orbital angular momentum of the twisted electron is determined by the magnetic quantum number of the initial bound state. The condition for the circular field can be related to the famous ATI peaks, and provides a new interpretation for this fundamental feature of photoelectron spectra. We find the length of the circular pulse to be a vital factor in this selection rule and, employing an effective frequency, we show that the photoelectron OAM emission spectra are sensitive to the parity of the number of laser cycles. This work provides the basic theoretical framework with which to understand the OAM of a photoelectron undergoing strong field ionisation

Conservation laws for electron vortices in strong-field ionisation

We investigate twisted electrons with a well-defined orbital angular momentum, which have been ionised via a strong laser field. By formulating a new variant of the well-known strong field approximation, we are able to derive conservation laws for the angular momenta of twisted electrons in the cases of linear and circularly polarised fields. In the case of linear fields, we demonstrate that the orbital angular momentum of the twisted electron is determined by the magnetic quantum number of the initial bound state. The condition for the circular field can be related to the famous ATI peaks, and provides a new interpretation for this fundamental feature of photoelectron spectra. We find the length of the circular pulse to be a vital factor in this selection rule and, employing an effective frequency, we show that the photoelectron OAM emission spectra are sensitive to the parity of the number of laser cycles. This work provides the basic theoretical framework with which to understand the OAM of a photoelectron undergoing strong field ionisation

Polarisation Effects in Above-Threshold Ionisation of Excited Helium

We present work on the disentanglement of core dynamics and binding potential inuences for Above-Threshold Ionisation in Helium prepared in an excited p state, interacting with a mid-IR field. This was formed by comparing the Coulomb Quantum-Orbit Strong-Field Approximation (CQSFA) with B-spline Algebraic Diagrammatic Construction (ADC) simulations. This may lead to the identi-cation of initial momentum distributions, for tunneling and re-scattering instances, from the CQSFA perspective. The latter method is an inverse approach; thus, the ADC simulations will allow comparison of findings

Double ionization probed on the attosecond timescale

Double ionization following the absorption of a single photon is one of the most fundamental processes requiring interaction between electrons(1-3). Information about this interaction is usually obtained by detecting emitted particles without access to real-time dynamics. Here, attosecond light pulses(4,5), electron wave packet interferometry(6) and coincidence techniques(7) are combined to measure electron emission times in double ionization of xenon using single ionization as a clock, providing unique insight into the two-electron ejection mechanism. Access to many-particle dynamics in real time is of fundamental importance for understanding processes induced by electron correlation in atomic, molecular and more complex systems

What will it take to observe processes in 'real time'?

Peer reviewed: YesNRC publication: Ye