Synthesis and Control of Attosecond Light Transients

This thesis aims at extending the capabilities of ultrafast science in manipulating light fields. The instantaneous field of light transients has been tailored on demand with attosecond resolution by implementing ultrawideband field synthesis in the visible and flanking ranges. First experiments utilizing the considerably improved resolution, such as the study of ionization dynamics of the Kr atom, are conducted. Utilizing these transients, atoms are ionized for the first time by an optical field within a subfemtosecond time interval. By combining these transients with a synchronized EUV attosecond pulse the demonstration of the first attosecond pump probe experiment has been possible. The generated bound electron wave packets in the Kr + ion resulting from this interaction are measured to have nearly perfect coherence. By extending the synthesis to over more than two optical octaves, from Infrared (IR) to deep ultraviolet (UV), a new generation of tools in the science of light are generated. We call the tools the “attosecond light transients”. The first steps towards the control of bound electrons with these transients are taken.