Dielectric response effects in attosecond time-resolved streaked photoelectron spectra of metal surfaces

The release of conduction-band electrons from a metal surface by a sub-femtosecond extreme ultraviolet (XUV) pulse, and their propagation through the solid, provokes a dielectric response in the solid that acts back on the photoelectron wave packet. We calculated the (wake) potential associated with this photoelectron self-interaction in terms of bulk and surface plasmon excitations and show that it induces a considerable, XUV-frequency-dependent temporal shift in laser-streaked XUV photoemission spectra, suggesting the observation of the ultrafast solid-state dielectric response in contemporary streaked photoemission experiments.Comment: 4 pages and 4 figures, submitted to PR

Electron-Ion Interaction Effects in Attosecond Time-Resolved Photoelectron Spectra

Photoionization by attosecond (as) extreme ultraviolet (xuv) pulses into the laser-dressed continuum of the ionized atom is commonly described in strong-field approximation (SFA), neglecting the Coulomb interaction between the emitted photoelectron (PE) and residual ion. By solving the time-dependent Sch\"{o}dinger equation (TDSE), we identify a temporal shift $\delta \tau$ in streaked PE spectra, which becomes significant at small PE energies. Within an eikonal approximation, we trace this shift to the combined action of Coulomb and laser forces on the released PE, suggesting the experimental and theoretical scrutiny of their coupling in streaked PE spectra. The initial state polarization effect by the laser pulse on the xuv streaked spectrum is also examined.Comment: 9 pages, Accepted by Phys. Rev.

Extended Classical Over-Barrier Model for Collisions of Highly Charged Ions with Conducting and Insulating Surfaces

We have extended the classical over-barrier model to simulate the neutralization dynamics of highly charged ions interacting under grazing incidence with conducting and insulating surfaces. Our calculations are based on simple model rates for resonant and Auger transitions. We include effects caused by the dielectric response of the target and, for insulators, localized surface charges. Characteristic deviations regarding the charge transfer processes from conducting and insulating targets to the ion are discussed. We find good agreement with previously published experimental data for the image energy gain of a variety of highly charged ions impinging on Au, Al, LiF and KI crystals.Comment: 32 pages http://pikp28.uni-muenster.de/~ducree

Criterion for Distinguishing Sequential from Nonsequential Contributions to the Double Ionization of Helium in Ultrashort Extreme-Ultraviolet Pulses

Citation: Liu, A. H., & Thumm, U. (2015). Criterion for Distinguishing Sequential from Nonsequential Contributions to the Double Ionization of Helium in Ultrashort Extreme-Ultraviolet Pulses. Physical Review Letters, 115(18), 5. doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.115.183002We quantify sequential and nonsequential contributions in two-photon double ionization of helium atoms by intense ultrashort extreme-ultraviolet pulses with central photon energies (h) over bar omega(ctr) near the sequential double-ionization threshold. If the spectrum of such pulses overlaps both the sequential ((h) over bar omega > 54.4 eV) and nonsequential ((h) over bar omega omega(ctr) = 50 eV pulses with a sine-squared temporal profile, we find that the sequential double-ionization contribution is the largest at a pulse length of 650 as, due to competing temporal and spectral constraints. In addition, we validate a simple heuristic expression for the sequential double-ionization contribution in comparison with ab initio calculations

Laser-assisted XUV double ionization of helium: Energy-sharing dependence of joint angular distributions

Citation: Liu, A. H., & Thumm, U. (2015). Laser-assisted XUV double ionization of helium: Energy-sharing dependence of joint angular distributions. Physical Review A, 91(4), 9. doi:10.1103/PhysRevA.91.043416By numerically solving the time-dependent Schrodinger equation in full dimensionality, we discuss the dependance of joint photoelectron angular distributions on the energy sharing of the emitted electrons for the double ionization of helium atoms by ultrashort pulses of extreme ultraviolet (XUV) radiation in coplanar emission geometry with and without the presence of a comparatively weak infrared (IR) laser pulse. For IR-laser-assisted single-XUV-photon double ionization, our joint angular distributions show that the IR-laser field enhances back-to-back electron emission and induces a characteristic splitting in the angular distribution for electrons that are emitted symmetrically relative to the identical linear polarization directions of the XUV and IR pulse. These IR-pulse-induced changes in photoelectron angular distributions are (i) imposed by different symmetry constraints for XUV-pulse-only and laser-assisted XUV double ionization, (ii) robust over a large range of energy sharings between the emitted electrons, and (iii) consistent with the transfer of discrete IR-photon momenta to both photoelectrons from the assisting IR-laser field. While selection-rule forbidden at equal energy sharing, for increasingly unequal energy sharing we find back-to-back emission to become more likely and to compete with symmetric emission

Attosecond probing of instantaneous AC Stark shifts in helium atoms

Based on numerical solutions of the time-dependent Schr\"odinger equation for either one or two active electrons, we propose a method for observing instantaneous level shifts in an oscillating strong infrared (IR) field in time, using a single tunable attosecond pulse to probe excited states of the perturbed atom. The ionization probability in the combined fields depends on both, the frequency of the attosecond pulse and the time delay between both pulses, since the IR field shifts excited energy levels into and out of resonance with the attosecond probe pulse. We show that this method (i) allows the detection of instantaneous atomic energy gaps with sub-laser-cycle time resolution and (ii) can be applied as an ultrafast gate for more complex processes such as non-sequential double-ionization

A Compact Two-Frequency Notch Filter for Millimeter Wave Plasma Diagnostics

Sensitive millimeter wave diagnostics in magnetic confinement plasma fusion experiments need protection from gyrotron stray radiation in the plasma vessel. Modern electron cyclotron resonance heating (ECRH) systems take advantage of multifrequency gyrotrons. This means that the frequency band of some millimeter wave diagnostics contains more than one narrow-band gyrotron-frequency line, which needs to be effectively suppressed. A compact standard waveguide notch filter based on coupled waveguide resonators with rectangular cross-section is presented which can provide very high suppression of several gyrotron frequencies and has low insertion loss of the passband

A multifrequency notch filter for millimeter wave plasma diagnostics based on photonic bandgaps on corrugated circular waveguides

Sensitive millimeter wave diagnostics need often to be protected against unwanted radiation like, for example, stray radiation from high power Electron Cyclotron Heating applied in nuclear fusion plasmas. A notch filter based on a waveguide Bragg reflector (photonic band-gap) may provide several stop bands of defined width within up to two standard waveguide frequency bands. A Bragg reflector that reflects an incident fundamental TE11 into a TM1n mode close to cutoff is combined with two waveguide tapers to fundamental waveguide diameter. Here the fundamental TE11 mode is the only propagating mode at both ends of the reflector. The incident TE11 mode couples through the taper and is converted to the high order TM1n mode by the Bragg structure at the specific Bragg resonances. The TM1n mode is trapped in the oversized waveguide section by the tapers. Once reflected at the input taper it will be converted back into the TE11 mode which then can pass through the taper. Therefore at higher order Bragg resonances, the filter acts as a reflector for the incoming TE11 mode. Outside of the Bragg resonances the TE11 mode can propagate through the oversized waveguide structure with only very small Ohmic attenuation compared to propagating in a fundamental waveguide. Coupling to other modes is negligible in the non-resonant case due to the small corrugation amplitude (typically 0.05·λ0, where λ0 is the free space wavelength). A Bragg reflector for 105 and 140 GHz was optimized by mode matching (scattering matrix) simulations and manufactured by SWISSto12 SA, where the required mechanical accuracy of ± 5 μm could be achieved by stacking stainless steel rings, manufactured by micro-machining, in a high precision guiding pipe. The two smooth-wall tapers were fabricated by electroforming. Several measurements were performed using vector network analyzers from Agilent (E8362B), ABmm (MVNA 8-350) and Rohde&Schwarz (ZVA24) together with frequency multipliers. The stop bands around 105 GHz (- 55dB) and 140 GHz (-60dB) correspond to the TE11-TM12 and TE11-TM13 Bragg resonances. Experiments are in good agreement with theory