Project Details
Projekt
Photoelectron tomography of electron vortices from tailored CEP-stable few-cycle and multicolour optical fields
Applicant
Professor Dr. Matthias Wollenhaupt
Subject Area
Optics, Quantum Optics and Physics of Atoms, Molecules and Plasmas
Term
from 2018 to 2024
Project identifier
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 410989756
Manipulating coherent light-induced electron dynamics with Carrier Envelope Phase (CEP) stable polarization-tailored femtosecond laser fields is a scientific objective at the heart of the second funding period of QUTIF.In the first funding period of QUTIF, we have implemented a supercontinuum polarization pulse shaper for the generation of tailored CEP-stable few-cycle pulses and bichromatic fields with variable frequency ratios [Opt. Express 25 (2017) 12518]. Using counterrotating circularly polarized pulse sequences in combination with photoelectron tomography, we presented the first experimental demonstration of free electron vortices from multiphoton ionization of atoms [Phys. Rev. Lett. 118 (2017) 053003] which have attracted much attention, both theoretically and experimentally.In the second funding period of QUTIF, we plan to extend our preliminary research by exploring advanced physically motivated coherent control scenarios for multiphoton ionization of model systems using polarization-tailored CEP-stable few-cycle and multicolour femtosecond laser fields. Special emphasis lies on the implementation of control scenarios to manipulate M- vs. N-photon interferences using pulse shaper-based variable frequency-ratio bichromatic fields from phase-stable supercontinuum radiation. The initial focus of our investigations will be on advanced coherent control of free electron vortices. For example, we will demonstrate CEP-sensitive bichromatic free electron vortices with an odd number of arms, including a single-armed vortex, by interference of ionic states with opposite parity, map Rydberg-type bound state dynamics and measure the ionization time of frequency mixing pathways by spectral interference in the continuum. Initially, we will validate these scenarios on quasi-one- and multi-electron systems in the perturbative regime and continue to explore these schemes in the non-perturbative and tunnel ionization regime. Three-dimensional photoelectron momentum distributions, measured by photoelectron tomography, are utilized to extract detailed information on the controlled quantum dynamics. We will refine our experimental set-up by two technical improvements: (1) the installation of an atomic / molecular beam in our photoelectron spectrometer to counteract spatial CEP-averaging by the Gouy phase and (2) the design and implementation of a ‘TWIN-shaper’, i.e. a novel polarization shaper for CEP-stable supercontinua. Combining the ‘TWIN-shaper’ to provide precise control on shape the electric field with highly differential detection by photoelectron tomography will allow us to demonstrate unprecedented manipulation of coherent electron dynamics in atoms and molecules.
DFG Programme
Priority Programmes
Major Instrumentation
TWIN Polarization Shaper
Instrumentation Group
5770 Lichtmodulatoren, Elektrooptik, Magnetooptik
