Beyond the single-atom response in absorption line shapes: probing a dense, laser-dressed helium gas with attosecond pulse trains

Phys Rev Lett. 2015 Apr 10;114(14):143002. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.114.143002. Epub 2015 Apr 6.

Abstract

We investigate the absorption line shapes of laser-dressed atoms beyond the single-atom response, by using extreme ultraviolet (XUV) attosecond pulse trains to probe an optically thick helium target under the influence of a strong infrared (IR) field. We study the interplay between the IR-induced phase shift of the microscopic time-dependent dipole moment and the resonant-propagation-induced reshaping of the macroscopic XUV pulse. Our experimental and theoretical results show that as the optical depth increases, this interplay leads initially to a broadening of the IR-modified line shape, and subsequently, to the appearance of new, narrow features in the absorption line.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Aluminum Oxide / chemistry
  • Helium / chemistry*
  • Lasers, Solid-State*
  • Models, Theoretical*
  • Spectrum Analysis / methods
  • Titanium / chemistry

Substances

  • Helium
  • Titanium
  • Aluminum Oxide