On-chip sampling of optical fields with attosecond resolution

We demonstrate an on-chip, optoelectronic device capable of sampling arbitrary, low-energy, near-infrared waveforms under ambient conditions with sub-optical-cycle resolution. Our detector uses field-driven photoemission from resonant nanoantennas to create attosecond electron bursts that probe the electric field of weak optical waveforms. Using these devices, we sampled the electric fields of similar to 5 fJ (6.4 MV m(-1)), few-cycle, near-infrared waveforms using similar to 50 pJ (0.64 GV m(-1)) near-infrared driving pulses. Beyond sampling these weak optical waveforms, our measurements directly reveal the localized plasmonic dynamics of the emitting nanoantennas in situ. Applications include broadband time-domain spectroscopy of molecular fingerprints from the visible region through the infrared, time-domain analysis of nonlinear phenomena and detailed investigations of strong-field light-matter interactions.

Automated summary

This on-chip optoelectronic device is capable of sampling low-energy near-infrared waveforms with sub-optical-cycle resolution under ambient conditions. By using resonant nanoantennas for field-driven photoemission, the device can create attosecond electron bursts to probe weak optical waveforms and reveal the localized plasmonic dynamics of the emitting nanoantennas. Applications include broadband time-domain spectroscopy, time-domain analysis of nonlinear phenomena, and detailed investigations of strong-field light-matter interactions.