Modulation of sub-optical cycle photocurrents in an ultrafast near-infrared scanning tunnelling microscope

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Rossetti, Andrea, Pagnini, Florian, Assaid, Majdi, Schoenfeld, Christoph, Leitenstorfer, Alfred, Ludwig, Markus, Brida, Daniele
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
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author Rossetti, Andrea
Pagnini, Florian
Assaid, Majdi
Schoenfeld, Christoph
Leitenstorfer, Alfred
Ludwig, Markus
Brida, Daniele
author_facet Rossetti, Andrea
Pagnini, Florian
Assaid, Majdi
Schoenfeld, Christoph
Leitenstorfer, Alfred
Ludwig, Markus
Brida, Daniele
contents Lightwave-driven scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM) at near-IR frequencies promises an unprecedented combination of atomic spatial resolution and temporal resolution approaching the attosecond range. To achieve this goal, high-sensitivity optical control and detection of sub-cycle tunnelling currents must be achieved at the STM junction. Here, we demonstrate the generation and detection of coherent ultrafast currents across the junction of an STM illuminated by near-infrared single-cycle pulses. We introduce a novel modulation scheme that avoids time-dependent thermal loading while selectively isolating carrier-envelope phase (CEP)-dependent photocurrents. All artifacts arising from periodic modulation of laser power and thermal coupling are efficiently suppressed, enabling a clean readout of the coherent portion of the ultrafast tunneling current.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2507_16357
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Modulation of sub-optical cycle photocurrents in an ultrafast near-infrared scanning tunnelling microscope
Rossetti, Andrea
Pagnini, Florian
Assaid, Majdi
Schoenfeld, Christoph
Leitenstorfer, Alfred
Ludwig, Markus
Brida, Daniele
Optics
Applied Physics
Lightwave-driven scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM) at near-IR frequencies promises an unprecedented combination of atomic spatial resolution and temporal resolution approaching the attosecond range. To achieve this goal, high-sensitivity optical control and detection of sub-cycle tunnelling currents must be achieved at the STM junction. Here, we demonstrate the generation and detection of coherent ultrafast currents across the junction of an STM illuminated by near-infrared single-cycle pulses. We introduce a novel modulation scheme that avoids time-dependent thermal loading while selectively isolating carrier-envelope phase (CEP)-dependent photocurrents. All artifacts arising from periodic modulation of laser power and thermal coupling are efficiently suppressed, enabling a clean readout of the coherent portion of the ultrafast tunneling current.
title Modulation of sub-optical cycle photocurrents in an ultrafast near-infrared scanning tunnelling microscope
topic Optics
Applied Physics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2507.16357