Attosecond nanoscale near-field sampling

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates a method for characterizing optical nearfields at the attosecond timescale using streaking spectroscopy on a gold nanotip, advancing ultrafast nanophysics research.

Contribution

It introduces an experimental approach for attosecond nearfield retrieval at the nanoscale, combining streaking spectroscopy with simulations to analyze laser-excited nanostructures.

Findings

Successful attosecond nearfield retrieval from a gold nanotip

Comparison with noble gas data to extract nearfield spectral response

Monte Carlo simulations elucidate streaking mechanism at the nanoscale

Abstract

The promise of ultrafast light field driven electronic nanocircuits has stimulated the development of the new research field of attosecond nanophysics. An essential prerequisite for advancing this new area is the ability to characterize optical nearfields from light interaction with nanostructures with sub cycle resolution. Here, we experimentally demonstrate attosecond nearfield retrieval with a gold nanotip using streaking spectroscopy. By comparison of the results from gold nanotips to those obtained for a noble gas, the spectral response of the nanotip near field arising from laser excitation can be extracted. Monte Carlo MC trajectory simulations in near fields obtained with the macroscopic Maxwells equations elucidate the streaking mechanism on the nanoscale.