Transferring the attoclock technique to velocity map imaging

Attosecond angular streaking measurements have revealed deep insights into the timing of tunnel ionization processes of atoms in intense laser fields. So far experiments of this type have been performed only with a cold-target recoil-ion momentum spectrometer (COLTRIMS). Here, we present a way to apply attosecond angular streaking experiments to a velocity map imaging spectrometer (VMIS) with few-cycle pulses at a repetition rate of 10 kHz and a high ionization yield per pulse. Three-dimensional photoelectron momentum distributions from strong-field ionization of helium with an elliptically polarized, sub-10-fs pulse were retrieved by tomographic reconstruction from the momentum space electron images and used for the analysis in the polarization plane.Comment: Minor changes to match the published versio

Ptychographic reconstruction of attosecond pulses

We demonstrate a new attosecond pulse reconstruction modality which uses an algorithm that is derived from ptychography. In contrast to other methods, energy and delay sampling are not correlated, and as a result, the number of electron spectra to record is considerably smaller. Together with the robust algorithm, this leads to a more precise and fast convergence of the reconstruction.Comment: 12 pages, 7 figures, the MATLAB code for the method described in this paper is freely available at http://figshare.com/articles/attosecond_Extended_Ptychographyc_Iterative_Engine_ePIE_/160187

Mesures de vies moyennes par effet Doppler

Des vies moyennes de niveaux nucléaires ont été déterminées par la méthode de l'effet Doppler. Les rayonnements gamma de désexcitation ont été détectés dans des compteurs Ge(Li). Des vies moyennes ont été obtenues pour les niveaux 0,953 MeV de 12B et 6,44 MeV de 14N

Tunneling Time in Ultrafast Science is Real and Probabilistic

We compare the main competing theories of tunneling time against experimental measurements using the attoclock in strong laser field ionization of helium atoms. Refined attoclock measurements reveal a real and not instantaneous tunneling delay time over a large intensity regime, using two different experimental apparatus. Only two of the theoretical predictions are compatible within our experimental error: the Larmor time, and the probability distribution of tunneling times constructed using a Feynman Path Integral (FPI) formulation. The latter better matches the observed qualitative change in tunneling time over a wide intensity range, and predicts a broad tunneling time distribution with a long tail. The implication of such a probability distribution of tunneling times, as opposed to a distinct tunneling time, challenges how valence electron dynamics are currently reconstructed in attosecond science. It means that one must account for a significant uncertainty as to when the hole dynamics begin to evolve.Comment: 11 pages, 4 figure

Attosecond screening dynamics mediated by electron-localization

Transition metals with their densely confined and strongly coupled valence electrons are key constituents of many materials with unconventional properties, such as high-Tc superconductors, Mott insulators and transition-metal dichalcogenides. Strong electron interaction offers a fast and efficient lever to manipulate their properties with light, creating promising potential for next-generation electronics. However, the underlying dynamics is a fast and intricate interplay of polarization and screening effects, which is poorly understood. It is hidden below the femtosecond timescale of electronic thermalization, which follows the light-induced excitation. Here, we investigate the many-body electron dynamics in transition metals before thermalization sets in. We combine the sensitivity of intra-shell transitions to screening effects with attosecond time resolution to uncover the interplay of photo-absorption and screening. First-principles time-dependent calculations allow us to assign our experimental observations to ultrafast electronic localization on d-orbitals. The latter modifies the whole electronic structure as well as the collective dynamic response of the system on a timescale much faster than the light-field cycle. Our results demonstrate a possibility for steering the electronic properties of solids prior to electron thermalization, suggesting that the ultimate speed of electronic phase transitions is limited only by the duration of the controlling laser pulse. Furthermore, external control of the local electronic density serves as a fine tool for testing state-of-the art models of electron-electron interactions. We anticipate our study to facilitate further investigations of electronic phase transitions, laser-metal interactions and photo-absorption in correlated electron systems on its natural timescale

Réalisation de détecteurs en germanium compensés au lithium

Nous avons étudié par gammagraphie un certain nombre de détecteurs Ge(Li), en particulier un détecteur pseudo-coaxial, dont les performances se sont nettement améliorées après ablation de la zone mauvaise. Pour améliorer le rapport photopic/Compton des détecteurs coaxiaux, nous avons enlevé le coeur de type P par étincelage. Deux diodes de ce type sont présentées

High-repetition-rate femtosecond optical parametric chirped-pulse amplifier in the mid-infrared

We discuss a dual-stage optical parametric chirped-pulse amplifier generating sub-100-fs pulses in the mid-infrared at a repetition rate of 100 kHz. The system is based on a 1064nm pump laser and a 3-4μm difference frequency generation seed source derived from the output of a femtosecond fiber laser amplifier. Both lasers are commercially available, are diode-pumped, compact, and allow for turn-key operation. Here, we focus our discussion on the design and dimensioning of the optical parametric chirped-pulse amplifier. In particular, we review the available gain materials for mid-infrared generation and analyze the impact of different stretching scenarios. Timing jitter plays an important role in short-pulse parametric amplifier systems and is therefore studied in detail. The geometry of the amplifier stages is optimized through a full 3-dimensional simulation with the aim of maximizing gain bandwidth and output power. The optimized system yields output pulse energies exceeding 1μJ and an overall gain larger than 50 dB. The high repetition rate of the pump laser results in an unprecedented average power from a femtosecond parametric system at mid-infrared wavelengths. First experimental results confirm the design and the predictions of our theoretical mode

Vies moyennes de niveaux de 53Mn excités par la réaction 50Cr (α, pγ)53Mn

Les propriétés électromagnétiques du noyau 53Mn sont étudiées à l'aide de la réaction 50Cr(α, pγ)53Mn à Eα = 14,5 MeV. Les rayonnements γ sont détectés en coïncidence avec les groupes de protons observés à l'aide d'un détecteur annulaire placé à 180° dans l'axe du faisceau. Des rapports d'embranchement de transitions γ sont donnés. La méthode d'atténuation de l'effet Doppler a été utilisée pour déduire les vies moyennes : niveau de 3,42 MeV, τ = 1,0 +0,6-0,4 ps ; niveau de 3,44 MeV, τ = 0,13 +0,05-0,04ps ; niveau de 4,15 MeV, τ = 0,07 ± 0,02 ps. Pour les niveaux à Ex < 3 MeV nos valeurs de τ sont en accord avec des résultats obtenus ailleurs. Pour le niveau de 3,44 MeV nous déduisons Jπ = 15/2- sans ambiguïté. Certaines probabilités de transitions B(M1) et B(E2) sont déterminées et comparées aux prédictions des modèles récents