Quantum coherent manipulation with free electrons via optical ponderomotive forces

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Peter Hommelhoff
• Subject Area: Optics, Quantum Optics and Physics of Atoms, Molecules and Plasmas
• Term: since 2022
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 490848611

Control of pulsed electron beams via the interaction with light fields may open new spectroscopic and imaging capabilities in electron microscopy. We propose to explore the quantum coherent manipulation of electrons inside of a laser-triggered scanning electron microscope using the ponderomotive potential of an optical traveling wave co-moving with the electrons. We aim at experimentally demonstrating the longitudinal version of Kapitza-Dirac effect, in which an electron wavepacket coherently diffracts at a structure made of light, which is periodic along the electron propagation direction. We plan to study the transition to the strongfield regime of the interaction, where the dephasing between the propagation velocities of the electrons and the optical wave plays role. The interaction between the ponderomotive potential of tailored light waves formed by spatio-temporally shaped laser pulses and electrons will be theoretically and experimentally investigated with the goal to develop a tool for close-to-arbitrary shaping of freely propagating electron wavefunctions.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: Czech Republic
• Cooperation Partner: Dr. Martin Kozák