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Coherent control of atto-second emission from aligned molecules

Abstract

Controlling atto-second electron wave packets and soft X-ray pulses represents a formidable challenge of general implication to many areas of science. A strong laser field interacting with atoms or molecules drives ultrafast intra-atomic/molecular electron wave packets on a sub femtosecond timescale, resulting in the emission of atto-second bursts of extreme-ultraviolet light. Controlling the intra-atomic/molecular electron dynamics enables steering of the atto-second emission. Here, we carry out a coherent control in linear molecules, where the interaction of the laser-driven electron wave packet with the core leads to quantum interferences. We demonstrate that these interferences can be finely controlled by turning the molecular axis relative to the laser polarization, that is, changing the electron re-collision angle. The wave-packet coulombic distortion modifies the spectral phase jump measured in the extreme-ultraviolet emission. Our atto-second control of the interference results in atto-second pulse shaping, useful for future applications in ultrafast coherent control of atomic and molecular processes. (authors)
Authors:
Boutu, W; Haessler, S; Merdji, H; Breger, P; Monchicourt, P; Carre, B; Salieres, P; [1]  Waters, G; [2]  Stankiewicz, M; [3]  Frasinski, L J; [4]  Taieb, R; Caillat, J; Maquet, A; [5]  Taieb, R; Caillat, J; Maquet, A [6] 
  1. CEA Saclay, DSM, Serv Photons Atomes Mol, F-91191 Gif Sur Yvette, (France)
  2. Univ Reading, JJ Thomson Phys Lab, Reading RG6 6AF, Berks, (United Kingdom)
  3. Jagiellonian Univ, Inst Phys, PL-30059 Krakow, (Poland)
  4. Univ London Imperial Coll Sci Technol and Med, Blackett Lab, London SW7 2BW, (United Kingdom)
  5. Univ Paris 06, UMR 7614, Lab Chim Phys Matiere Rayonnement, F-75231 Paris 05, (France)
  6. LCPMR, UMR 7614, CNRS, F-75005 Paris, (France)
Publication Date:
Jul 01, 2008
Product Type:
Journal Article
Resource Relation:
Journal Name: Nature Physics (Print); Journal Volume: 4; Journal Issue: 7; Other Information: 29 refs
Subject:
74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS; DE BROGLIE WAVELENGTH; HARMONIC GENERATION; IONIZATION; LASER RADIATION; MOLECULAR STRUCTURE; PULSES; RARE GASES; SOFT X RADIATION; WAVE PACKETS
OSTI ID:
21286223
Country of Origin:
France
Language:
English
Other Identifying Numbers:
Journal ID: ISSN 1745-2473; TRN: FR10F0114034515
Availability:
Available from doi: <http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nphys964>;INIS
Submitting Site:
FRN
Size:
page(s) 545-549
Announcement Date:
May 20, 2010

Citation Formats

Boutu, W, Haessler, S, Merdji, H, Breger, P, Monchicourt, P, Carre, B, Salieres, P, Waters, G, Stankiewicz, M, Frasinski, L J, Taieb, R, Caillat, J, Maquet, A, Taieb, R, Caillat, J, and Maquet, A. Coherent control of atto-second emission from aligned molecules. France: N. p., 2008. Web. doi:10.1038/NPHYS964.
Boutu, W, Haessler, S, Merdji, H, Breger, P, Monchicourt, P, Carre, B, Salieres, P, Waters, G, Stankiewicz, M, Frasinski, L J, Taieb, R, Caillat, J, Maquet, A, Taieb, R, Caillat, J, & Maquet, A. Coherent control of atto-second emission from aligned molecules. France. https://doi.org/10.1038/NPHYS964
Boutu, W, Haessler, S, Merdji, H, Breger, P, Monchicourt, P, Carre, B, Salieres, P, Waters, G, Stankiewicz, M, Frasinski, L J, Taieb, R, Caillat, J, Maquet, A, Taieb, R, Caillat, J, and Maquet, A. 2008. "Coherent control of atto-second emission from aligned molecules." France. https://doi.org/10.1038/NPHYS964.
@misc{etde_21286223,
title = {Coherent control of atto-second emission from aligned molecules}
author = {Boutu, W, Haessler, S, Merdji, H, Breger, P, Monchicourt, P, Carre, B, Salieres, P, Waters, G, Stankiewicz, M, Frasinski, L J, Taieb, R, Caillat, J, Maquet, A, Taieb, R, Caillat, J, and Maquet, A}
abstractNote = {Controlling atto-second electron wave packets and soft X-ray pulses represents a formidable challenge of general implication to many areas of science. A strong laser field interacting with atoms or molecules drives ultrafast intra-atomic/molecular electron wave packets on a sub femtosecond timescale, resulting in the emission of atto-second bursts of extreme-ultraviolet light. Controlling the intra-atomic/molecular electron dynamics enables steering of the atto-second emission. Here, we carry out a coherent control in linear molecules, where the interaction of the laser-driven electron wave packet with the core leads to quantum interferences. We demonstrate that these interferences can be finely controlled by turning the molecular axis relative to the laser polarization, that is, changing the electron re-collision angle. The wave-packet coulombic distortion modifies the spectral phase jump measured in the extreme-ultraviolet emission. Our atto-second control of the interference results in atto-second pulse shaping, useful for future applications in ultrafast coherent control of atomic and molecular processes. (authors)}
doi = {10.1038/NPHYS964}
journal = []
issue = {7}
volume = {4}
place = {France}
year = {2008}
month = {Jul}
}