Project Details
Analysis and control of collective, coherent, and correlated electron dynamics in laser-driven metal nanostructures
Applicants
Professor Dr. Thomas Fennel; Professor Dr. Peter Hommelhoff; Professor Dr. Matthias Kling
Subject Area
Optics, Quantum Optics and Physics of Atoms, Molecules and Plasmas
Term
from 2015 to 2022
Project identifier
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 281272685
Driven by the unlimited options to vary the shape and composition of nanostructures, this project aims at exploring both the fundamental physics and potential new applications of nanosystems under controlled intense fields. Extreme field localization, pronounced near-field inhomogeneity, collisional electron dynamics, unexpected enhancements through many-particle charge interaction, and non-trivial field deformation via field propagation mark some of the important conceptual differences of laser-driven nanostructures compared to atoms and molecules. For the project continuation, we specifically focus on non-perturbative near-field and multi-color driven photoemission from metallic nanostructures and aim to uncover the role of quantum and classical aspects of the underyling attosecond electron dynamics. By combined experimental and theoretical analysis of phase-controlled two-color photoemission and attosecond streaking from metallic nanotapers – 0-D nanotips and 1-D nanoblades – we strive to identify signatures from collective, coherent, and correlated processes to further the understanding of light-field driven nanostructures and their applications. For the first time, we expand the dimensionality here to attain large strong-field induced currents in 1-D structures.
DFG Programme
Priority Programmes
International Connection
USA
Cooperation Partner
Professor Dr. James Rosenzweig