Three-dimensional momentum imaging of electron wave packet interference in few-cycle laser pulses

Phys Rev Lett. 2009 Jul 31;103(5):053001. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.103.053001. Epub 2009 Jul 27.

Abstract

Using a reaction microscope, three-dimensional (3D) electron (and ion) momentum (P) spectra have been recorded for carrier-envelope-phase (CEP) stabilized few-cycle ( approximately 5 fs), intense ( approximately 4 x 10(14) W/cm2) laser pulses (740 nm) impinging on He. Preferential emission of low-energy electrons (E(e)<15 eV) to either hemisphere is observed as a function of the CEP. Clear interference patterns emerge in P space at CEPs with maximum asymmetry, interpreted as attosecond interferences of rescattered and directly emitted electron wave packets by means of a simple model.