Attomicroscopy imaging and control of electron motion in graphene

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates the use of attomicroscopy to visualize and control bound electron motion in graphene, enabling manipulation of electron currents at the atomic scale with potential applications in chemistry and material science.

Contribution

It introduces a novel application of attomicroscopy for imaging and controlling electron dynamics in a solid-state material, specifically graphene.

Findings

Controlled electron current amplitude and direction in graphene.

Visualization of bound electron motion at the atomic scale.

Potential for manipulating electronic properties of materials.

Abstract

Attosecond science has leveraged the highly nonlinear interactions between intense few-cycle laser pulses and matter, allowing for unprecedented observation and control of electron motion with remarkable temporal resolution. However, most existing experiments focusing on laser-controlled attosecond dynamics have dealt with quasi-bound electrons released in the ionization continua of atoms, molecules, or conduction bands in solid-state systems. Here, we employed the recently developed attomicroscopy imaging tool to investigate, visualize, and manipulate the motion of bound electrons in graphene. By adjusting the carrier-envelope phase and the field strength of the driving electric field, we were able to control both the amplitude and direction of the field-induced electron current between carbon atoms in graphene. This research opens new avenues for understanding and controlling dynamic, on-demand electron motion processes, including chemical reactions, molecular bonding, and the electronic properties of materials.