Abstract

Attosecond science is sub-laser cycle science. Attosecond pulses are formed when a gas of atoms or molecules are ionized by a strong laser field. The resulting electron wave packet, formed by tunneling near the crest of the wave, interferes with its parent orbital about 2/3 period later. In this process it transfers the electron energy and time structure to the optical pulse. Thus, attosecond electrons and optical pulses go hand-in-hand.

© 2007 Optical Society of America