Streaking temporal double-slit interference by an orthogonal two-color laser field

Area of Science:

• Atomic Physics
• Quantum Mechanics
• Laser-Matter Interactions

Background:

• Investigating electron wave packet dynamics in atomic ionization is crucial for understanding quantum phenomena.
• Intracycle interference patterns in electron momentum distributions are typically challenging to resolve experimentally.

Purpose of the Study:

• To experimentally control and resolve intracycle interference in electron momentum distributions from single ionization of Argon.
• To utilize a two-color laser scheme to manipulate electron wave packets and establish which-way information.

Main Methods:

• Employing two orthogonally polarized laser pulses of different colors on Argon atoms.
• Analyzing electron momentum distributions resulting from single ionization.
• Controlling the phase between the two laser pulses to modulate interference visibility.

Main Results:

• The two-color scheme allows intracycle interference to dominate the electron momentum distribution.
• The second laser pulse acts as a which-way marker, influencing interference visibility.
• Interference fringe visibility is directly dependent on the degree of which-way information provided by the controllable phase.

Conclusions:

• A two-color laser ionization scheme provides experimental control over electron wave packet interference.
• The phase-controlled which-way information is key to resolving and understanding intracycle interference patterns.
• This technique offers new avenues for probing fundamental quantum dynamics in atomic systems.