Quantum Interference Visibility Spectroscopy in Two-Color Photoemission from Tungsten Needle Tips

Li A, Pan Y, Dienstbier P, Hommelhoff P (2021)


Publication Language: English

Publication Type: Journal article, Letter

Publication year: 2021

Journal

Book Volume: 126

Article Number: 137403

DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.126.137403

Abstract

When two-color femtosecond laser pulses interact with matter, electrons can be emitted through various multiphoton excitation pathways. Quantum interference between these pathways gives rise to a strong oscillation of the photoemitted electron current, experimentally characterized by its visibility. In this Letter, we demonstrate the two-color visibility spectroscopy of multiphoton photoemissions from a solid-state nanoemitter. We investigate the quantum pathway interference visibility over an almost octave-spanning wavelength range of the fundamental (ω) femtosecond laser pulses and their second harmonic (2ω). The photoemissions show a high visibility of 90% ±  5%, with a remarkably constant distribution. Furthermore, by varying the relative intensity ratio of the two colors, we find that we can vary the visibility between 0% and close to 100%. A simple but highly insightful theoretical model allows us to explain all observations, with excellent quantitative agreements. We expect this work to be universal to all kinds of photo-driven quantum interference, including quantum control in physics, chemistry, and quantum engineering.

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How to cite

APA:

Li, A., Pan, Y., Dienstbier, P., & Hommelhoff, P. (2021). Quantum Interference Visibility Spectroscopy in Two-Color Photoemission from Tungsten Needle Tips. Physical Review Letters, 126. https://dx.doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.126.137403

MLA:

Li, Ang, et al. "Quantum Interference Visibility Spectroscopy in Two-Color Photoemission from Tungsten Needle Tips." Physical Review Letters 126 (2021).

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