Channel-resolved subcycle interferences of electron wave packets emitted from H$_2$ in two-color laser fields

TL;DR

This study observes and analyzes subcycle interferences of electron wave packets emitted from H$_2$ molecules during strong field ionization using two-color laser fields, revealing their sensitivity to laser cycle-shape and potential for probing molecular dynamics.

Contribution

The paper demonstrates the channel-resolved observation of subcycle electron wave packet interferences and links these structures to the laser cycle-shape, advancing understanding of molecular ionization dynamics.

Findings

Subcycle interference structures are highly sensitive to laser cycle-shape.

Electron wave packet interferences can reveal subcycle molecular dynamics.

Channel-resolved momentum distributions provide detailed insights into ionization processes.

Abstract

We report on the observation of subcycle interferences of electron wave packets released during the strong field ionization of H$_2$ with cycle-shaped two-color laser fields. With a reaction microscope, channel-resolved photoelectron momentum distribution are obtained for different final products originating from single ionization of H$_2$. Our results show that the subcycle interference structures of electron wave packet are very sensitive to the cycle-shape of the two-color laser field. The reason is that the ionization time within an optical cycle is determined by the cycle-shape of the laser field. The subcycle interference structures can be further used to get the subcycle dynamics of molecules during strong field interaction.