Probing Molecular Dynamics by Laser-Induced Backscattering Holography

Phys Rev Lett. 2016 Apr 1;116(13):133001. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.116.133001. Epub 2016 Apr 1.

Abstract

We use differential holography to overcome the forward scattering problem in strong-field photoelectron holography. Our differential holograms of H_{2} and D_{2} molecules exhibit a fishbonelike structure, which arises from the backscattered part of the recolliding photoelectron wave packet. We demonstrate that the backscattering hologram can resolve the different nuclear dynamics between H_{2} and D_{2} with subangstrom spatial and subcycle temporal resolution. In addition, we show that attosecond electron dynamics can be resolved. These results open a new avenue for ultrafast studies of molecular dynamics in small molecules.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't