Ultrastable, high-repetition-rate attosecond beamline for time-resolved XUV-IR coincidence spectroscopy

The implementation of attosecond photoelectron-photoion coincidence spectroscopy for the investigation of atomic and molecular dynamics calls for a high-repetition-rate driving source combined with experimental setups characterized by excellent stability for data acquisition over time intervals ranging from a few hours up to a few days. This requirement is crucial for the investigation of processes characterized by low cross sections and for the characterization of fully differential photoelectron(s) and photoion(s) angular and energy distributions. We demonstrate that the implementation of industrial-grade lasers, combined with a careful design of the delay line implemented in the pump-probe setup, allows one to reach ultrastable experimental conditions leading to an error in the estimation of the time delays of only 12 as over an acquisition time of 6.5 h. This result opens up new possibilities for the investigation of attosecond dynamics in simple quantum systems.

Automated summary

The implementation of attosecond photoelectron-photoion coincidence spectroscopy requires a high-repetition-rate driving source and stable experimental setups for data acquisition over long time intervals. This is crucial for studying processes with low cross sections and characterizing photoelectron(s) and photoion(s) angular and energy distributions. By using industrial-grade lasers and a carefully designed delay line, ultrastable experimental conditions were achieved with an error in time delay estimation of only 12 as over a 6.5-hour acquisition time. This opens up new possibilities for investigating attosecond dynamics in simple quantum systems.