학술논문

Quantum-Path-Resolved Attosecond High-Harmonic Spectroscopy
Document Type
article
Source
Physical Review Letters. 130(8)
Subject
Quantum Physics
Atomic
Molecular and Optical Physics
Physical Sciences
Biotechnology
Mathematical Sciences
Engineering
General Physics
Mathematical sciences
Physical sciences
Language
Abstract
Strong-field ionization of molecules releases electrons which can be accelerated and driven back to recombine with their parent ion, emitting high-order harmonics. This ionization also initiates attosecond electronic and vibrational dynamics in the ion, evolving during the electron travel in the continuum. Revealing this subcycle dynamics from the emitted radiation usually requires advanced theoretical modeling. We show that this can be avoided by resolving the emission from two families of electronic quantum paths in the generation process. The corresponding electrons have the same kinetic energy, and thus the same structural sensitivity, but differ by the travel time between ionization and recombination-the pump-probe delay in this attosecond self-probing scheme. We measure the harmonic amplitude and phase in aligned CO_{2} and N_{2} molecules and observe a strong influence of laser-induced dynamics on two characteristic spectroscopic features: a shape resonance and multichannel interference. This quantum-path-resolved spectroscopy thus opens wide prospects for the investigation of ultrafast ionic dynamics, such as charge migration.