Accurate Retrieval of Target Structures and Laser Parameters of Few-Cycle Pulses from Photoelectron Momentum Spectra

Journal Article · Fri Feb 20 04:00:00 EST 2009 · Physical Review Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PHYSREVLETT.102.073001· OSTI ID:21180219

Micheau, S; Chen, Zhangjin; Le, A T; Lin, C D ^[1]; Rauschenberger, J; Kling, M F ^[2]

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1. Department of Physics, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas 66506 (United States)
2. Max-Planck Institute of Quantum Optics, Hans-Kopfermann-Strasse 1, 85748 Garching (Germany)

We illustrate a new method of analyzing three-dimensional momentum images of high-energy photoelectrons generated by intense phase-stabilized few-cycle laser pulses. Using photoelectron momentum spectra that were obtained by velocity-map imaging of above-threshold ionization of xenon and argon targets, we show that the absolute carrier-envelope phase, the laser peak intensity, and pulse duration can be accurately determined simultaneously (with an error of a few percent). We also show that the target structure, in the form of electron-target ion elastic differential cross sections, can be retrieved over a range of energies. The latter offers the promise of using laser-generated electron spectra for probing dynamic changes in molecular targets with subfemtosecond resolution.

• OSTI ID: 21180219
• Journal Information: Physical Review Letters, Journal Name: Physical Review Letters Journal Issue: 7 Vol. 102; ISSN 0031-9007; ISSN PRLTAO
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS
ARGON
DIFFERENTIAL CROSS SECTIONS
ELECTRON SPECTRA
ELECTRONS
IONIZATION
IONS
LASERS
PHOTOELECTRON SPECTROSCOPY
PULSES
THREE-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS
XENON