[en] The strong fields associated with few-cycle pulses can drive highly nonlinear phenomena, allowing the direct control of electrons
in condensed matter systems. In this context, by employing near-infrared single-cycle pulse pairs, we measure interferometric
autocorrelations of the ultrafast currents induced by optical field emission at the nanogap of a single plasmonic nanocircuit.
The dynamics of this ultrafast electron nanotransport depends on the precise temporal field profile of the optical driving pulse.
Current autocorrelations are acquired with sub-femtosecond temporal resolution as a function of both pulse delay and absolute
carrier-envelope phase. Quantitative modelling of the experiments enables us to monitor the spatiotemporal evolution of the
electron density and currents induced in the system and to elucidate the physics underlying the electron transfer driven by
strong optical fields in plasmonic gaps. Specifically, we clarify the interplay between the carrier-envelope phase of the driving
pulse, plasmonic resonance and quiver motion.
Disciplines :
Physics
Author, co-author :
Ludwig, Markus ; University of Konstanz, Germany > Department of Physics and Center for Applied Photonics
Aguirregabiria, Garikoitz; Centro de Física de Materiales, Centro Mixto CSIC-UPV/EHU and Donostia International Physics Center (DIPC), Donostia–San Sebastián, Spain
Ritzkowsky, Felix; University of Konstanz, Germany. > Department of Physics and Center for Applied Photonics
Rybka, Tobias; University of Konstanz, Germany. > Department of Physics and Center for Applied Photonics
Marinica, Dana Codruta; Institut des Sciences Moléculaires d′Orsay – UMR 8214, CNRS–Université Paris Sud, Orsay, France
Aizpurua, Javier; Centro de Física de Materiales, Centro Mixto CSIC-UPV/EHU and Donostia International Physics Center (DIPC), Donostia–San Sebastián, Spain
Borisov, Andrei G.; Institut des Sciences Moléculaires d′Orsay – UMR 8214, CNRS–Université Paris Sud, Orsay, France
Leitenstorfer, Alfred; University of Konstanz, Germany. > Department of Physics and Center for Applied Photonics
Brida, Daniele ; University of Luxembourg > Faculty of Science, Technology and Communication (FSTC) > Physics and Materials Science Research Unit ; University of Konstanz, D-78457 Konstanz, Germany > Department of Physics and Center for Applied Photonics
External co-authors :
yes
Language :
English
Title :
Sub-femtosecond electron transport in a nanoscale gap