Paul Corkum - Attosecond Photonics: What we learn by transforming many photons into one

Paul Corkum, University of Ottawa

Abstract:

The extreme nonlinear optics that underlies attosecond science is very different from perturbative nonlinear optics. Extreme nonlinear optics is understood through quantum trajectories of an ionizing electron wave packet.  A trajectory begins from a bound state and returns to the same state, following an excursion in the continuum. Quantum trajectories map onto an interferometer - an electron interferometer created by light.  A weak additional field can perturb these trajectories, manipulating the interferometer while simultaneously constructing a perturbative nonlinear optics on top of the extreme process.  Using interferometric concepts, I will show how we can measure the space-time properties of attosecond pulses, the space-time structure of electronic wave packets and follow chemical dynamics of small molecules.

About DLS:

The Distinguished Lecturer Series (DLS) follows a colloquium format for a broad audience and will be followed by a reception to provide an opportunity for meeting the speaker.