Reprint of: The role of delay times in subcycle-resolved probe retardation measurements

• Published in: Physica. E, Low-dimensional systems & nanostructures Low-dimensional systems & nanostructures, 2016-08, Vol.82, p.122-128
• Main Authors: Reislöhner, Jan, Pfeiffer, Adrian N.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Photoemission delays; Strong-field physics; Subcycle nonlinear optics
• ISSN: 1386-9477; 1873-1759
• DOI: 10.1016/j.physe.2016.02.022

The delay in the nonlinear response of matter to intense laser pulses has been studied since a long time regarding its nuclear contribution. In contrast, the electronic part of the nonlinear response in wide-band-gap dielectrics, which is usually dominant, is not well explored regarding its delay, and previous studies have revealed that the timescale is below 1 fs. Here, the influence of delay times on the recently introduced method of subcycle-resolved probe retardation measurements is investigated using a simulation. In the model assumed, the electronic nonlinearity is divided into the third order Kerr effect and the plasma contribution due to conduction band population in the strong laser field. In the regime of close-to-collinear pump-probe geometries, the probe retardation shows both π- and 2π-oscillations in the pump-probe delay. Sub-femtosecond delay times influence the phase of the oscillations significantly, but it remains difficult to distinguish the influence of the Kerr response from the plasma contribution. •The retardation of a probe pulse by a strong pump pulse is investigated.•Subcycle resolution in the pulse delay is achieved for low crossing angles and small spot-sizes.•The measurement is sensitive to a delay in the electronic Kerr response and/or ionization.