Attosecond and Angstrom Science

When a strong laser field ionizes atoms (or molecules), the electron wave packet that tunnels from the molecule moves under the influence of the strong field and can re-collide with its parent ion. The maximum re-collision electron kinetic energy depends on the laser wavelength. Timed by the laser field oscillations, the re-colliding electron interferes with the bound state wave function from which it © 2007 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved ISSN 1049-250X DOI: 10.1016/S1049-250X(06)54008-X 511 512 H. Niikura and P.B. Corkum [1 tunneled. The oscillating dipole caused by the quantum interference produces attosecond optical pulses. Interference can characterize both interfering beams—their wavelength, phase and spatial structure. Thus, written on the attosecond pulse is an image of the bound state orbital and the wave function at the re-collision electron. In addition to interfering, the re-collision electron can elastically or inelastically scatter from its parent ion, diffracting from the ion, and exciting or even exploding it. We review attosecond technology while emphasizing the underlying electron–ion re-collision physics.