Abstract
We investigate the subcycle control of electron trajectories in single ionization of Ar atoms with two-color laser pulses consisting of a linearly polarized 800-nm field and a circularly polarized 400-nm field. By varying the relative phase between the two fields, the photoelectron angular distribution rotates in the polarization plane and the rotation velocity can be controlled. From the comparison with results obtained with a semiclassical model, we find that the Coulomb field has a greater impact on direct trajectories than on those that undergo a recollision which is opposite to the electron behavior in a monochromatic field. This effect can be directly visualized in the experiment and finely controlled on a subcycle timescale by means of the two-color field scheme. It is shown that the influence of the Coulomb force on the photoelectron momentum distribution is different along the longitudinal and transverse direction.
Highlights
In laser-driven light-atom interactions a valence electron is photoionized on an attosecond timescale
From the comparison with results obtained with a semiclassical model, we find that the Coulomb field has a greater impact on direct trajectories than on those that undergo a recollision which is opposite to the electron behavior in a monochromatic field
After separating the phase-dependent photoelectron angular distribution (PAD) into contributions emerging from different electron birth times we find that direct trajectories are suppressed and distorted more than the recollision trajectories
Summary
In laser-driven light-atom interactions a valence electron is photoionized on an attosecond timescale. Two-color laser fields have been widely used to control the photoelectron motion on a subcycle timescale. A 45 ° cross linearly polarized twocolor (CTC) laser field was employed to study the effect of Coulomb focusing and defocusing on the photoelectron motion by tuning the relative phase between the constituent laser fields [31]. After separating the phase-dependent PAD into contributions emerging from different electron birth times we find that direct trajectories are suppressed and distorted more than the recollision trajectories. This effect can be directly visualized and controlled by tuning the relative phase in the experiment. The phase-dependent momentum spectra show further that the Coulomb interaction has an opposite effect on the photoelectron longitudinal and transverse momentum distributions
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