Separation of Wigner and Continuum-continuum Delays by Mirror-symmetry-broken Attosecond Interferometry

TL;DR

This paper introduces a novel attosecond interferometry technique using mirror-symmetry breaking to separately measure native ionization delays and measurement-induced delays, advancing precision in photoionization dynamics studies.

Contribution

The study presents a new interferometry method that isolates Wigner and continuum-continuum delays, overcoming previous measurement limitations in attosecond science.

Findings

Successfully separates native and measurement-induced delays

Enables more accurate benchmarking of electronic-structure methods

Paves the way for advanced attosecond measurements

Abstract

Photoionization of matter is one of the fastest electronic processes in nature. Experimental measurements of photoionization dynamics have become possible through attosecond metrology. However, all experiments reported to date contain a so-far unavoidable measurement-induced contribution, known as continuum-continuum (CC) or Coulomb-laser-coupling delay. Exploiting the recently characterized circularly polarized attosecond pulse trains, we introduce the concept of mirror-symmetry-broken attosecond interferometry, which enables the direct and separate measurement of both the native one-photon ionization delays as well as the continuum-continuum delays. Our technique solves the longstanding challenge of experimentally isolating both the native one-photon-ionization (or Wigner) delays and the measurement-induced (CC) delays. This advance opens the door to a new generation of precision measurements that is likely to drive major progress in experimental and theoretical attosecond science with implications for benchmarking the accuracy of electronic-structure and electron-dynamics methods.