Persistent quantum interfering electron trajectories

TL;DR

This paper provides experimental evidence that both short and long electron trajectories contribute to high-harmonic generation, challenging the previous assumption that only the short trajectory is involved, with implications for attosecond pulse generation and measurement.

Contribution

It demonstrates the persistent contribution of both electron trajectories to harmonic emission even under phase matching conditions unfavorable for the long trajectory.

Findings

Both trajectories contribute to harmonic emission.

Interference modulation of harmonic yield observed.

Impacts on cross-correlation pulse metrology.

Abstract

The emission of above-ionization-threshold harmonics results from the recombination of two electron wavepackets moving along a "short" and a "long" trajectory in the atomic continuum. Attosecond pulse train generation has so far been attributed to the short trajectory, attempted to be isolated through targeted trajectory-selective phase matching conditions. Here, we provide experimental evidence for the contribution of both trajectories to the harmonic emission, even under phase matching conditions unfavorable for the long trajectory. This is finger printed in the interference modulation of the harmonic yield as a function of the driving laser intensity. The effect is also observable in the sidebands yield resulting from the frequency mixing of the harmonics and the driving laser field, an effect with consequences in cross-correlation pulse metrology approaches.