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arXiv · 1512.04394

Optical gating and streaking of free-electrons with attosecond precision

Martin Kozak·Joshua McNeur·Kenneth J. Leedle·Norbert Schoenenberger·Alex Ruehl·Ingmar Hartl·James S. Harris·Robert L. Byer·Peter Hommelhoff
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Abstract

In this paper we present proof of principle experiments of an optical gating concept for free electrons. We demonstrate a temporal resolution of 1.2+-0.3 fs via energy and transverse momentum modulation as a function of time. The scheme is based on the synchronous interaction between electrons and the near-field mode of a dielectric nano-grating excited by a femtosecond laser pulse with an optical period duration of 6.5 fs. The sub-optical cycle resolution demonstrated here is promising for use in laser-driven streak cameras for attosecond temporal characterization of bunched particle beams as well as time-resolved experiments with free-electron beams. We expect that 10 as temporal resolution will be achieved in the near future using such a scheme.

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Martin Kozak, Joshua McNeur, Kenneth J. Leedle, Norbert Schoenenberger, Alex Ruehl, Ingmar Hartl, James S. Harris, Robert L. Byer, Peter Hommelhoff. 2015-12-14. Optical gating and streaking of free-electrons with attosecond precision. https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms14342

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