RESUMO
The implementation of attosecond photoelectron-photoion coincidence spectroscopy for the investigation of atomic and molecular dynamics calls for a high-repetition-rate driving source combined with experimental setups characterized by excellent stability for data acquisition over time intervals ranging from a few hours up to a few days. This requirement is crucial for the investigation of processes characterized by low cross sections and for the characterization of fully differential photoelectron(s) and photoion(s) angular and energy distributions. We demonstrate that the implementation of industrial-grade lasers, combined with a careful design of the delay line implemented in the pump-probe setup, allows one to reach ultrastable experimental conditions leading to an error in the estimation of the time delays of only 12 as over an acquisition time of 6.5 h. This result opens up new possibilities for the investigation of attosecond dynamics in simple quantum systems.
RESUMO
The quantum mechanical motion of electrons and nuclei in systems spatially confined to the molecular dimensions occurs on the sub-femtosecond to the femtosecond timescales respectively. Consequently, the study of ultrafast electronic and, in specific cases, nuclear dynamics requires the availability of light pulses with attosecond (asec) duration and of sufficient intensity to induce two-photon processes, essential for probing the intrinsic system dynamics. The majority of atoms, molecules and solids absorb in the extreme-ultraviolet (XUV) spectral region, in which the synthesis of the required attosecond pulses is feasible. Therefore, the XUV spectral region optimally serves the study of such ultrafast phenomena. Here, we present a detailed review of the first 10-GW class XUV attosecond source based on laser driven high harmonic generation in rare gases. The pulse energy of this source largely exceeds other laser driven attosecond sources and is comparable to the pulse energy of femtosecond Free-Electron-Laser (FEL) XUV sources. The measured pulse duration in the attosecond pulse train is 650 ± 80 asec. The uniqueness of the combined high intensity and short pulse duration of the source is evidenced in non-linear XUV-optics experiments. It further advances the implementation of XUV-pump-XUV-probe experiments and enables the investigation of strong field effects in the XUV spectral region.