Ionization of atoms by few-cycle EUV laser pulses: carrier-envelope phase dependence of the intra-pulse interference effects

• Published in: The European physical journal. D, Atomic, molecular, and optical physics Vol. 68; no. 11
• Main Authors: Tóth, Attila, Borbély, Sándor, Tőkési, Károly, Nagy, Ladislau
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01.11.2014; EDP Sciences
• Subjects: Applications of Nonlinear Dynamics and Chaos Theory; Atomic; Atomic and molecular physics; Atomic properties and interactions with photons; Exact sciences and technology; Molecular; Optical and Plasma Physics; Photoionization of atoms and ions; Photon interactions with atoms; Physical Chemistry; Physics; Physics and Astronomy; Quantum Information Technology; Quantum Physics; Regular Article; Spectroscopy/Spectrometry; Spintronics; Topical Issue: Elementary Processes with Atoms and Molecules in Isolated and Aggregated States; Wave Packet; Laser Pulse; Momentum Distribution; Continuum Electron; Spatial Interference; Continuum; Momentum distribution; Laser pulse; Photoionization; Ionization; Hydrogen Atoms; Theoretical study; Extreme ultraviolet radiation; Wave packets
• ISSN: 1434-6060; 1434-6079
• DOI: 10.1140/epjd/e2014-50616-2

We have investigated the ionization of the H atom by intense few-cycle laser pulses, in particular the intra-pulse interference effects, and their dependence on the carrier-envelope phase (CEP) of the laser pulse. In the final momentum distribution of the continuum electrons the imprint of two types of intra-pulse interference effects can be observed, namely the temporal and spatial interference. During the spatial interference electronic wave packets emitted at the same time, but following different paths interfere leading to an interference pattern measurable in the electron spectra. This can be also interpreted as the interference between a direct and a scattered wave, and the spatial interference pattern as the holographic mapping (HM) of the target. This HM pattern is strongly influenced by the carrier-envelope phase through the shape of the laser pulse. Here, we have studied how the shape of the HM pattern is modified by the CEP, and we have found an optimal CEP for the observation of HM.