Attosecond light pulses and their applications in chemistry

Abstract

Since their first generation and characterization over 20 years ago[1,2], attosecond pulses have been considered a powerful tool for measuring and potentially controlling electronic processes in atoms and molecules [3]. The extremely short time duration of these pulses, which are nowadays routinely produced by high harmonics generation (HHG), corresponds to the natural time scale of electron movement and dynamics making them ideal for time-resolved studies and real-time tracking of a variety of ultrafast processes in both atoms and molecules[4,5].

In this seminar, I will briefly describe the production of attosecond pulses by HHG and the semi-classical model that explains their generation followed by an example of the use of attosecond pulses in chemistry.

References:

  1. P. M. Paul, E. S. Toma, P. Breger, G. Mullot, F. Augé, Ph. Balcou, H. G. Muller, and P. Agostini, Science 292, 1689 (2001).
  2. M. Hentschel, R. Kienberger, Ch. Spielmann, G. A. Reider, N. Milosevic, T. Brabec, P. Corkum, U. Heinzmann, M. Drescher, and F. Krausz, Nature 414, 509 (2001).
  3. F. Krausz and M. Ivanov, Rev. Mod. Phys. 81, 163 (2009).
  4. F. Lépine, G. Sansone, and M. J. J. Vrakking, Chemical Physics Letters 578, 1 (2013).
  5. F. Calegari and F. Martin, Commun Chem 6, 184 (2023).