One-dimensional model of streaking experiment in solids

TL;DR

This paper presents a one-dimensional theoretical model for sub-femtosecond streaking experiments in metals, highlighting how the streaking effect depends on electron energy and initial state character, aiding interpretation of recent experimental results.

Contribution

The model incorporates key physical features like pseudopotential, surface field decay, electron mean free path, and screened hole effects, providing new insights into streaking phenomena in solids.

Findings

Streaking effect depends on the final electron energy.

Initial state character significantly influences streaking.

Model offers a new interpretation framework for recent experiments.

Abstract

One-dimensional model for study of sub--femtosecond experiment with metal surface is put forward. The important features of the system, such as the pseudopotential for electron motion in the metal bulk, abrupt decrease of the normal to the surface external electromagnetic field in the bulk, finite value of the mean free path for electrons in the metal, and action on the ejected electron by the (stationary) screened positive hole in the metal are included in the model. The results obtained reveal dependence of the streaking effect on the final energy of the ejected electron. Meanwhile, the dependence of the streaking on the character of the initial state (localized or delocalized) appears to be more pronounced. This result may provide an additional mechanism for interpretation of the results of very recent experiment [Cavalieri \emph{et.al}, NATURE \textbf{449} 1029-1032 2007 ].