Abstract
Attosecond extreme-ultraviolet pulses have a complex space-time structure. However, at present, there is no method to observe this intricate detail; all measurements of the duration of attosecond pulses are, to some extent, spatially averaged. A technique for determining the full space-time structure would enable a detailed study of the highly nonlinear processes that generate these pulses as a function of intensity without averaging. Here, we introduce and demonstrate an all-optical method to measure the space-time characteristics of an isolated attosecond pulse. Our measurements show that intensity-dependent phase and quantum-path interference both play a key role in determining the pulse structure. In the generating medium, the attosecond pulse is strongly modulated in space and time. Propagation modifies but does not erase this modulation. Quantum-path interference of the single-atom response, previously obscured by spatial and temporal averaging, may enable measuring the laser-field-driven ion dynamics with sub-cycle resolution.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 159-163 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | Nature Physics |
Volume | 9 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Mar 2013 |
Externally published | Yes |