Complete characterization of light waves using attosecond pulses [Elektronische Ressource] / vorgelegt von Eleftherios Goulielmakis

Complete Characterization of LightWaves using Attosecond PulsesEleftherios GoulielmakisMun¨ chen 2005Complete Characterization of LightWaves using Attosecond PulsesEleftherios GoulielmakisDissertationan der Fakult¨at fur¨ Physikder Ludwig–Maximilians–Universit¨atMunc¨ henvorgelegt vonEleftherios Goulielmakisaus Heraklion, Kreta, GriechenlandMunc¨ hen, den 05.07.05Erstgutachter: Prof. Dr. Ferenc KrauszZweitgutachter: Prof. Dr. Eberhard RiedleTag der mundlic¨ hen Prufung:¨ 01.08.05AbstractThe most direct way to probe the strength of an electric field, is to measure the force thatexerts to a charged particle. For a time varying field, charge placement within an intervalsubstantially shorter than the characteristic period of variation of the field is essential forsampling its temporal evolution. Employing such a scheme to track the field variation15of light waves that changes its direction∼ 10 times per second, charge release shall beconfined within a fraction of a femtosecond.In this thesis, the complete characterization of a light pulse is demonstrated experi-mentally for the first time by probing its field variation using a 250 attosecond electronburst. Such an ultrafast charge probe, can be generated by the impulsive ionization ofatoms, using an XUV attosecond pulse precisely synchronized with the light waveform tobe characterized.