Observing the real-time evolution of helium atoms in a strong laser field

Niranjan Shivaram, Henry Timmers, Xiao Min Tong, Arvinder Sandhu

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

The interaction of a strong laser field with an atom significantly modifies its atomic structure. Such an atom can be modeled using the Floquet theory in which the atomic states are described by Floquet states composed of several Fourier components. We use high-order harmonics present in extreme-ultraviolet (XUV) attosecond pulse trains (APTs) to create excited states in infra-red(IR) laser dressed He atoms which are ionized by the dressing laser field itself. The quantum interference between different components of the Floquet states leads to oscillation in the ion yield as a function of XUV-IR time delay. We measure the phase of this quantum interference process through the phase of the ion yield signal which allows us to follow the evolution of the dressed atom, in real-time, as the intensity of the IR field is varied.We observe a transition from a 5p Floquet state dominated ionization to a 2p Floquet state dominated ionization with increasing IR intensity.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationMultiphoton Processes and Attosecond Physics - Proceedings of the 12th Int. Conference on Multiphoton Processes, ICOMP 2011 and the 3rd International Conference on Attosecond Physics, ATTO 2011
PublisherSpringer Science and Business Media, LLC
Pages203-207
Number of pages5
ISBN (Print)9783642289477
DOIs
StatePublished - 2012
Event12th International Conference on Multiphoton Processes, ICOMP 2011 and the 3rd International Conference on Attosecond Physics, ATTO 2011 - Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
Duration: Jul 3 2011Jul 8 2011

Publication series

NameSpringer Proceedings in Physics
Volume125
ISSN (Print)0930-8989
ISSN (Electronic)1867-4941

Other

Other12th International Conference on Multiphoton Processes, ICOMP 2011 and the 3rd International Conference on Attosecond Physics, ATTO 2011
Country/TerritoryJapan
CitySapporo, Hokkaido
Period7/3/117/8/11

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Physics and Astronomy

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