Recollision physics at the nanoscale
Abstract
Nanoscale matter irradiated by ultrashort laser pulses has significant potential for the development of ultrafast light-driven electronics. Realizing this requires detailed understanding of the interaction mechanisms and knowledge of the time scales of light-induced electronic motion, including collective (plasmonic) excitations. We propose to study the response of individual gas-phase nanoparticles to intense femtosecond laser fields by using high-harmonics spectroscopy, momentum-resolved photoelectron imaging and corresponding theoretical modeling. Previous studies of photoelectron emission from dielectric and metal nanoparticles demonstrated that nanoparticles represent promising systems for exploiting the effects of laser-induced electron recollision due to the interplay between the laser field and the enhanced near-field of the particle. Extending these studies to longer wavelengths and complementing them with high-harmonic generation from nanoparticles and nanoparticle aggregates will significantly advance our knowledge of the electron recollision dynamics at the nanoscale. The study, performed over an unprecedented range of wavelengths (400 nm to 9000 nm), will yield information on the wavelength scaling of harmonic generation at the nanoscale, which is expected to be considerably different from the atomic case. Using our unique combination of expertise in nanoparticle synthesis, their delivery to vacuum, photoelectron spectroscopy, high-harmonic generation, ultrafast optics development, and theoretical capabilities, we will provide a comprehensive picture of strong-field mechanisms on sub-laser cycle time scales. We will investigate the possibilities to control the nanoparticle response, in particular, plasmonic excitations, by applying synthesized two-color fields, and explore harmonic generation from tailor-made nanoparticles as a potential source of intense, short-pulsed XUV light.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Apr 09, 2018
- Source ID
- FA95501710369
Entities
People
- Carlos Trallero
Organizations
- Air Force Office of Scientific Research
- United States Air Force
- University of Connecticut