Generation and Characterization of Attosecond Pulses

The research undertaken in this project has been directed toward the area of attoscience, in particular the problem of attosecond metrology. That is, the accurate determination of the electric field of attosecond XUV radiation. This outstanding problem has been identified as a critical technology for further development of the field, and our research adds to the area by providing the first method for characterization using the harmonic radiation itself as a tool. The technical effectiveness of this approach is very high, since it is vastly easier to detect XUV radiation directly than via the spectrum of photoelectrons liberated from atoms by it. This means that the experimental data rate can be much higher in principle using all-optical detection that electron detection, which will greatly aid the utility of harmonic XUV sources in attoscience applications. There are as yet no direct public benefits from this area of scientific research, though access to material structural dynamics on unprecedented brief timescales are expected to yield significant benefits for the future