Abstract
We present an interferometric pump-probe technique for the characterization of attosecond electron wave packets (WPs) that uses a free WP as a reference to measure a bound WP. We demonstrate our method by exciting helium atoms using an attosecond pulse (AP) with a bandwidth centered near the ionization threshold, thus creating both a bound and a free WP simultaneously. After a variable delay, the bound WP is ionized by a few-cycle infrared laser precisely synchronized to the original AP. By measuring the delay-dependent photoelectron spectrum we obtain an interferogram that contains both quantum beats as well as multipath interference. Analysis of the interferogram allows us to determine the bound WP components with a spectral resolution much better than the inverse of the AP duration.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 053001 |
Journal | Physical Review Letters |
Volume | 105 |
Issue number | 5 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2010 |
Subject classification (UKÄ)
- Atom and Molecular Physics and Optics