Characterization of high-order harmonic radiation on femtosecond and attosecond time scales

We characterize the temporal structure of high-order harmonic radiation on both the femtosecond and attosecond time scales. The harmonic emission is characterized by mixed-color two-photon ionization with an infrared femtosecond laser using a Mach–Zehnder interferometer where both pump and probe arms travel completely separate paths. In a first experiment, we measure the duration and chirp of individual harmonics. In a second experiment, we resolve, for the first time with this type of setup, the attosecond beating of several harmonics generated under conditions similar to the first experiment. We suggest that the results of both measurements can be combined to determine the full attosecond time structure of the harmonic emission. PACS 32.80.Rm; 42.65.Ky     

Attosecond electron wave packet dynamics in strong laser fields

We use a train of sub-200 attosecond extreme ultraviolet (XUV) pulses with energies just above the ionization threshold in argon to create a train of temporally localized electron wave packets. We study the energy transfer from a strong infrared (IR) laser field to the ionized electrons as a function of the delay between the XUV and IR fields. When the wave packets are born at the zero crossings of the IR field, a significant amount of energy (approximately 20 eV) is transferred from the field to the electrons. This results in dramatically enhanced above-threshold ionization in conditions where the IR field alone does not induce any significant ionization. Because both the energy and duration of the wave packets can be varied independently of the IR laser, they are valuable tools for studying and controlling strong-field processes.     

CONTROLLING THE 3D NANOSCALE ORGANIZATION OF BULK HETEROJUNCTION POLYMER SOLAR CELLS

In this study,the three dimensional nanoscale organization in the photoactive layers of poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) and a methanofullerene derivative (PCBM) is revealed by transmission electron tomography.After annealing treatment,either at elevated temperature or during slow solvent evaporation,nanoscale interpenetrating networks are formed with high crystalline order and favorable concentration gradients of both components through the thickness of the photoactive layer.Such a tailored morphology acco...     

Strong field quantum path control using attosecond pulse trains

We show that attosecond pulse trains have a natural application in the control of strong field processes. In combination with an intense infrared laser field, the pulse train can be used to microscopically select a single quantum path contribution to a process that would otherwise consist of several interfering components. We present calculations that demonstrate this by manipulating the time-frequency properties of high order harmonics at the single atom level. This quantum path selection can also be used to define a high resolution attosecond clock.     

The 54Fe(3He,t)54Co reaction at 70 MeV,Gamow-Teller strength

The ⁵⁴Fe(³He, t)⁵⁴Co reaction has been studied at 70 MeV with an energy resolution around 70 keV (FWHM). The triton spectra are characterized by sharp peaks up to 10 MeV excitation energy superimposed on a continuum. Most of the sharp peaks have a forward-peaked angular distribution and 38 peaks or groups of peaks are found to have an angular distribution corresponding to an angular momentum transfer of 2. Model considerations lead to the conclusion that most of these states are 1⁺ states. A shell-model calculation with parameters that account for the Gamow-Teller strength distribution in ⁴⁸Ca-⁴⁸Sc divides the β-strength in ⁵⁴Co in a ratio 5.7:6.8:1.3 for the T = 0, 1 and 2 states. A comparison is made with the 1⁺ spectrum in ⁵⁴Mn (T = 2 states) and a tentative assignment of T = 2 states in ⁵⁴Co is reached. The cross section has been calculated for the 0⁺, 1⁺ and 3⁺ states in ⁵⁴Co assuming a pure ($\text{π}\text{f}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>7</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}{}^{\mathrm{?1}}\text{ν}\text{f}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>7</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}{}^{\mathrm{?1}}$) configuration finite-range DWBA is used and the conclusions are that the (³He, α, t) and (³He, d, t) processes give significant contributions to the cross sections.     

High-spin particle states in 151Sm studied with the (α, 3He) reaction

High-spin states have been located in ¹⁵¹Sm by means of the (α, ³He) reaction with 40 MeV α-particles. The scattered particles were momentum analyzed in a QMG/2 magnetic spectrometer and recorded in a position sensitive detector. Several high-spin states were observed in the energy range below 1.7 MeV excitation. The previously unknown strongly populated levels at 867 and 1480 keV can most likely be interpreted as $\text{13}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{+}}$ states. Both the deduced nuclear structure factors and the energy location of these levels are in excellent agreement with a simple Coriolis coupling calculation.     

Generating single attosecond pulses via spatial filtering

The first observation of isolated attosecond pulses by Hentschel [Nature 414, 509 (2001)] resulted from an experiment that left the exact mechanism of their generation unresolved. A complete simulation of the experiment reveals the reason for its success: single pulses were efficiently isolated from two or more generated pulses by spatial filtering in the far field. Our explanation suggests a new, simple paradigm for the production of isolated attosecond bursts. We show that this method can be used, in conjunction with carrier-envelope phase stabilization, to select single attosecond pulses by use of 10 fs driving pulses.