Optical detection of tunneling ionization.
We have experimentally detected optical harmonics that are generated due to a tunneling-ionization-induced modulation of the electron density. The optical signature of electron tunneling can be isolated from concomitant optical responses by using a noncollinear pump-probe setup. Whereas previously demonstrated tools for attosecond metrology of gases, plasmas, and surfaces rely on direct detection of charged particles, detection of the background-free time-resolved optical signal, which uniquely originates from electron tunneling, offers an interesting alternative that is especially suited for systems in which free electrons cannot be directly measured.
Verhoef
Aart J
AJ
Photonics Institute, Vienna University of Technology, Gusshausstrasse 27-29/387, A-1040, Vienna, Austria.
Mitrofanov
Alexander V
AV
Serebryannikov
Evgenii E
EE
Kartashov
Daniil V
DV
Zheltikov
Aleksei M
AM
Baltuska
Andrius
A