Mapping the spectral phase of isolated attosecond pulses by extreme-ultraviolet emission spectrum.

Candong Liu,Ruxin Li,Zhinan Zeng,Zhizhan Xu,Mauro Nisoli

doi:10.1364/oe.23.009858

Abstract

An all-optical method is proposed for the measurement of the spectral phase of isolated attosecond pulses. The technique is based on the generation of extreme-ultraviolet (XUV) radiation in a gas by the combination of an attosecond pulse and a strong infrared (IR) pulse with controlled electric field. By using a full quantum simulation, we demonstrate that, for particular temporal delays between the two pulses, the IR field can drive back to the parent ions the photoelectrons generated by the attosecond pulse, thus leading to the generation of XUV photons. It is found that the generated XUV spectrum is notably sensitive to the chirp of the attosecond pulse, which can then be reliably retrieved. A classical quantum-path analysis is further used to quantitatively explain the main features exhibited in the XUV emission.

Highlights

In the past decade attosecond science has proven to be a very active research field, with a number of notable applications in atomic, molecular and solid state physics [1, 2]
By using a full quantum simulation, we demonstrate that, for particular temporal delays between the two pulses, the IR field can drive back to the parent ions the photoelectrons generated by the attosecond pulse, leading to the generation of XUV photons
The implementation of the attosecond streak camera technique [12], in combination with the Frequency Resolved Optical Gating for Complete Reconstruction of Attosecond Bursts (FROG-CRAB) algorithm [13] allow one to obtain a complete temporal characterization of the streaking IR field and to measure the temporal intensity envelope and spectral phase of the attosecond pulse. Another experimental approach based on the measurement of the photoelectron spectra as a function of the delay between an attosecond and a femtosecond pulse is called Phase Retrieval by Omega Oscillation Filtering (PROOF) [14], which can be used to characterize ultra-broadband attosecond pulses

Summary

Introduction

In the past decade attosecond science has proven to be a very active research field, with a number of notable applications in atomic, molecular and solid state physics [1, 2]. We propose a novel scheme, based on the measurement of the spectrum of the XUV photons produced by high-order harmonic generation in a gas by the combined action of an IAP and a strong IR pulse.

Results

Conclusion