Heimerl J, Rasputnyi A, Pölloth J, Meier S, Chekhova M, Hommelhoff P (2025)
Publication Type: Journal article
Publication year: 2025
DOI: 10.1038/s41567-025-03087-1
Attosecond science relies on driving photoemitted electrons with the strong optical field of a laser pulse, which represents an intense classical coherent state of light. Bright squeezed vacuum is a quantum state of light that is also intense enough to drive strong-field physics. However, its mean optical electric field is zero, suggesting that, in a semi-classical view, electrons should not experience strong driving. The question arises if and how this quantum state of light can generate signatures of attosecond dynamics in strong-field photoemission. Here we show that the key signatures of strong-field physics—the high energy plateau and subsequent cut-off—also appear under driving of a needle tip by bright squeezed vacuum, but only when we post-select electron energy spectra on the individual photon number of each pulse. When averaging over many shots, we observe broad energy spectra without a plateau. This suggests that electrons driven by bright squeezed vacuum behave as if driven by an ensemble of coherent states of light. Our findings bridge strong-field physics and quantum optics, offering insights into bright squeezed vacuum and other quantum light states, and suggest the use of strongly driven electrons as quantum light sensors.
APA:
Heimerl, J., Rasputnyi, A., Pölloth, J., Meier, S., Chekhova, M., & Hommelhoff, P. (2025). Quantum light drives electrons strongly at metal needle tips. Nature Physics. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41567-025-03087-1
MLA:
Heimerl, Jonas, et al. "Quantum light drives electrons strongly at metal needle tips." Nature Physics (2025).
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