# Vectorial optical field reconstruction by attosecond spectral interferometry

## TL;DR

This paper presents a novel interferometric method using attosecond pulses to fully reconstruct the complex electric field, including amplitude and polarization, of few-cycle optical pulses with high sensitivity and potential applications in spectroscopy.

## Contribution

The work introduces a new technique combining extreme ultraviolet interferometry and attosecond electron wave packet control for complete optical field reconstruction.

## Key findings

- Successful reconstruction of complex electric fields of few-cycle pulses.
- Ability to characterize pulses with energies as low as hundreds of nanojoules.
- Potential for full electric field characterization in visible spectroscopy applications.

## Abstract

An electrical pulse E(t) is completely defined by its time-dependent amplitude and polarisation direction. For optical pulses the manipulation and characterisation of the light polarisation state is fundamental due to its relevance in several scientific and technological fields. In this work we demonstrate the complete temporal reconstruction of the electric field of few-cycle pulses with a complex time-dependent polarisation. Our experimental approach is based on extreme ultraviolet interferometry with isolated attosecond pulses and on the demonstration that the motion of an attosecond electron wave packet is sensitive to perturbing fields only along the direction of its motion. By exploiting the sensitivity of interferometric techniques and by controlling the emission and acceleration direction of the wave packet, pulses with energies as low as few hundreds of nanojoules can be reconstructed. Our approach opens the possibility to completely characterise the electric field of the pulses typically used in visible pump-probe spectroscopy.