Identifying the complexity of the holographic structures in strong field ionization

Abstract

We present numerical investigations of the strong-field attosecond photoelectron holography by analyzing the holographic interference structures in the two-dimensional photoelectron momentum distribution (PMD) in hydrogen atom target induced by a strong infrared laser pulse. The PMDs are calculated by solving the full-dimensional time-dependent Schrödinger equation. The effect of the number of optical cycles on the PMD is considered and analyzed. We show how the complex interference patterns are formed from a single-cycle pulse to multi-cycle pulses. Furthermore, snapshots of the PMD during the time evolution are presented for a single-cycle pulse in order to track the formation of the so-called fish-bone like holographic structure. The spider- and fan-like holographic structures are also identified and investigated. We found that the fan-like structure could only be identified clearly for pulses with three or more optical cycles and its symmetry depends closely on the number of optical cycles. In addition, we found that the intensity and wavelength of the laser pulse affect the density of interference fringes in the holographic patterns. We show that the longer the wavelength, the more the holographic structures are confined to the polarization axis.

Strong-field photoelectron holography in the subcycle limit

“…To alleviate the limitations encountered in the multicycle regime, the use of sophisticated experimental methods, such as two-color laser fields 18 – 21 , differential holographic measurement 22 , and intricate data analysis methods 23 , 24 , has been proposed; however, direct observation of target structure-relevant holographic interference patterns remains a challenge owing to the persistent influence of inter-cycle interference effects. In light of the challenges posed by inter-cycle interference, the use of single-cycle laser pulses emerges as a viable alternative for SFPH studies 25 – 27 . Unlike multicycle laser fields, single-cycle pulses have shorter durations and well-defined oscillation periods.…”

High-order above-threshold ionisation of diatomic molecules by few-cycle bicircular and orthogonally polarised two-colour pulses

“…Finally, the interference pattern in the photoelectron momentum distribution was investigated in ref. 39 as a function of the number of optical cycles per driving pulse.…”

Strong-field photoelectron holography in the subcycle limit

“…To alleviate the limitations encountered in the multicycle regime, the use of sophisticated experimental methods, such as two-color laser fields [17][18][19][20], differential holographic measurement [21], and intricate data analysis methods [22,23], has been proposed; however, direct observation of target structure-relevant holographic interference patterns remains a challenge owing to the persistent influence of intercycle interference effects. In light of the challenges posed by intercycle interference, the use of single-cycle laser pulses emerges as a viable alternative for SFPH studies [24][25][26]. Unlike multicycle laser fields, single-cycle pulses have shorter durations and well-defined oscillation periods.…”