Energy- and angle-resolved coherent control on photoelectron dynamics by a directionality orthogonal double-slit interferometry

Opt Express. 2024 Oct 7;32(21):37703-37715. doi: 10.1364/OE.537644.

Abstract

We propose a directionality orthogonal double-slit interferometry to control photoelectron dynamics in energy- and angle-resolved fashion. The two orthogonal components of polarization-skewed (PS) laser pulse, in which the total polarization vector rotates as time evolves, can be regarded as the double-slit in the time domain. Our results demonstrate that the peak splitting and shift in photoelectron momentum distributions can be controlled by the relative optical phase between two components of the PS pulse. Based on the analysis from time-dependent perturbation theory, the behaviors of photoelectrons in angle-integrated energy spectra between 1s and 2p initial states can be attributed to the significant discrepancy of an interference pattern, which is reflected in energy- and angle-dependent phase difference of transition amplitudes from two orthogonal components of PS pulse. In addition, the influences of time delay and intensity ratio between two subpulses on this coherent control are also discussed. Our work provides a feasible protocol for controlling photoelectron dynamics in energy and angular resolutions and enriches the potential applications of the double-slit interference in the time domain.