1
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Synanidis AP, Gonçalves PAD, Ropers C, de Abajo FJG. Quantum effects in the interaction of low-energy electrons with light. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2024; 10:eadp4096. [PMID: 38905338 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adp4096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2024] [Accepted: 05/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/23/2024]
Abstract
The interaction between free electrons and optical fields constitutes a unique platform to investigate ultrafast processes in matter and explore fundamental quantum phenomena. Specifically, optically modulated electrons in ultrafast electron microscopy act as noninvasive probes that push space-time-energy resolution to the picometer-attosecond-microelectronvolt range. Electron energies well above the involved photon energies are commonly used, rendering a low electron-light coupling and, thus, only providing limited access to the wealth of quantum nonlinear phenomena underlying the dynamical response of nanostructures. Here, we theoretically investigate electron-light interactions between photons and electrons of comparable energies, revealing quantum and recoil effects that include a nonvanishing coupling of surface-scattered electrons to light plane waves, inelastic electron backscattering from confined optical fields, and strong electron-light coupling under grazing electron diffraction by an illuminated crystal surface. Our exploration of electron-light-matter interactions holds potential for applications in ultrafast electron microscopy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adamantios P Synanidis
- ICFO-Institut de Ciencies Fotoniques, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, 08860 Castelldefels, Spain
| | - P A D Gonçalves
- ICFO-Institut de Ciencies Fotoniques, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, 08860 Castelldefels, Spain
| | - Claus Ropers
- Department of Ultrafast Dynamics, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
- 4th Physical Institute-Solids and Nanostructures, University of Göttingen, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - F Javier García de Abajo
- ICFO-Institut de Ciencies Fotoniques, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, 08860 Castelldefels, Spain
- ICREA-Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats, Passeig Lluís Companys 23, 08010 Barcelona, Spain
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2
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Axelrod JJ, Zhang JT, Petrov PN, Glaeser RM, Müller H. Modern approaches to improving phase contrast electron microscopy. Curr Opin Struct Biol 2024; 86:102805. [PMID: 38531188 DOI: 10.1016/j.sbi.2024.102805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2024] [Revised: 03/04/2024] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024]
Abstract
Although defocus can be used to generate partial phase contrast in transmission electron microscope images, cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) can be further improved by the development of phase plates which increase contrast by applying a phase shift to the unscattered part of the electron beam. Many approaches have been investigated, including the ponderomotive interaction between light and electrons. We review the recent successes achieved with this method in high-resolution, single-particle cryo-EM. We also review the status of using pulsed or near-field enhanced laser light as alternatives, along with approaches that use scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) with a segmented detector rather than a phase plate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy J Axelrod
- Department of Physics, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, One Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Jessie T Zhang
- Department of Physics, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Petar N Petrov
- Department of Physics, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, One Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Robert M Glaeser
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Holger Müller
- Department of Physics, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, One Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA.
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3
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Liebtrau M, Polman A. Angular Dispersion of Free-Electron-Light Coupling in an Optical Fiber-Integrated Metagrating. ACS PHOTONICS 2024; 11:1125-1136. [PMID: 38523743 PMCID: PMC10958598 DOI: 10.1021/acsphotonics.3c01574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2023] [Revised: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024]
Abstract
Free electrons can couple to optical material excitations on nanometer-length and attosecond-time scales, opening-up unique opportunities for both the generation of radiation and the manipulation of the electron wave function. Here, we exploit the Smith-Purcell effect to experimentally study the coherent coupling of free electrons and light in a circular metallo-dielectric metagrating that is fabricated onto the input facet of a multimode optical fiber. Using hyperspectral angle-resolved (HSAR) far-field imaging inside a scanning electron microscope, we probe the angular dispersion of Smith-Purcell radiation (SPR) that is simultaneously generated in free space and inside the fiber by an electron beam that grazes the metagrating at a nanoscale distance. Furthermore, we analyze the spectral distribution of SPR that is emitted into guided optical modes and correlate it with the numerical aperture of the fiber. By varying the electron energy between 5 and 30 keV, we observe the emission of SPR from the ultraviolet to the near-infrared spectral range, and up to the third emission order. In addition, we detect incoherent cathodoluminescence that is generated by electrons penetrating the input facet of the fiber and scattering inelastically. As a result, our HSAR measurements reveal a Fano resonance that is coupled to a Rayleigh anomaly of the metagrating, and that overlaps with the angular dispersion of second-order SPR at 20 keV. Our findings demonstrate the potential of optical fiber-integrated metasurfaces as a versatile platform to implement novel ultrafast light sources and to synthesize complex free-electron quantum states with light.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthias Liebtrau
- Center for Nanophotonics, NWO-Institute
AMOLF, Science Park 104, 1098 XG Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Albert Polman
- Center for Nanophotonics, NWO-Institute
AMOLF, Science Park 104, 1098 XG Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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4
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Axelrod JJ, Zhang JT, Petrov PN, Glaeser RM, Mȕller H. Modern approaches to improving phase contrast electron microscopy. ARXIV 2024:arXiv:2401.11678v2. [PMID: 38344223 PMCID: PMC10854270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
Although defocus can be used to generate partial phase contrast in transmission electron microscope images, cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) can be further improved by the development of phase plates which increase contrast by applying a phase shift to the unscattered part of the electron beam. Many approaches have been investigated, including the ponderomotive interaction between light and electrons. We review the recent successes achieved with this method in high-resolution, single-particle cryo-EM. We also review the status of using pulsed or near-field enhanced laser light as alternatives, along with approaches that use scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) with a segmented detector rather than a phase plate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy J Axelrod
- Department of Physics, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, One Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Jessie T Zhang
- Department of Physics, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Petar N Petrov
- Department of Physics, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, One Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Robert M Glaeser
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Holger Mȕller
- Department of Physics, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, One Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
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5
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Yang Y, Henke JW, Raja AS, Kappert FJ, Huang G, Arend G, Qiu Z, Feist A, Wang RN, Tusnin A, Tikan A, Ropers C, Kippenberg TJ. Free-electron interaction with nonlinear optical states in microresonators. Science 2024; 383:168-173. [PMID: 38207019 DOI: 10.1126/science.adk2489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2024]
Abstract
The short de Broglie wavelength and strong interaction empower free electrons to probe structures and excitations in materials and biomolecules. Recently, electron-photon interactions have enabled new optical manipulation schemes for electron beams. In this work, we demonstrate the interaction of electrons with nonlinear optical states inside a photonic chip-based microresonator. Optical parametric processes give rise to spatiotemporal pattern formation corresponding to coherent or incoherent optical frequency combs. We couple such "microcombs" to electron beams, demonstrate their fingerprints in the electron spectra, and achieve ultrafast temporal gating of the electron beam. Our work demonstrates the ability to access solitons inside an electron microscope and extends the use of microcombs to spatiotemporal control of electrons for imaging and spectroscopy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yujia Yang
- Institute of Physics, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
- Center for Quantum Science and Engineering, EPFL, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Jan-Wilke Henke
- Department of Ultrafast Dynamics, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, D-37077 Göttingen, Germany
- Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, D-37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Arslan S Raja
- Institute of Physics, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
- Center for Quantum Science and Engineering, EPFL, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - F Jasmin Kappert
- Department of Ultrafast Dynamics, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, D-37077 Göttingen, Germany
- Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, D-37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Guanhao Huang
- Institute of Physics, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
- Center for Quantum Science and Engineering, EPFL, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Germaine Arend
- Department of Ultrafast Dynamics, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, D-37077 Göttingen, Germany
- Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, D-37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Zheru Qiu
- Institute of Physics, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
- Center for Quantum Science and Engineering, EPFL, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Armin Feist
- Department of Ultrafast Dynamics, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, D-37077 Göttingen, Germany
- Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, D-37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Rui Ning Wang
- Institute of Physics, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
- Center for Quantum Science and Engineering, EPFL, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Aleksandr Tusnin
- Institute of Physics, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
- Center for Quantum Science and Engineering, EPFL, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Alexey Tikan
- Institute of Physics, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
- Center for Quantum Science and Engineering, EPFL, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Claus Ropers
- Department of Ultrafast Dynamics, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, D-37077 Göttingen, Germany
- Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, D-37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Tobias J Kippenberg
- Institute of Physics, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
- Center for Quantum Science and Engineering, EPFL, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
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6
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Bourgeois MR, Nixon AG, Chalifour M, Masiello DJ. Optical polarization analogs in inelastic free-electron scattering. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadj6038. [PMID: 38117898 PMCID: PMC10732523 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adj6038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/17/2023] [Indexed: 12/22/2023]
Abstract
Advances in the ability to manipulate free-electron phase profiles within the electron microscope have spurred development of quantum-mechanical descriptions of electron energy loss (EEL) processes involving transitions between phase-shaped transverse states. Here, we elucidate an underlying connection between two ostensibly distinct optical polarization analogs identified in EEL experiments as manifestations of the same conserved scattering flux. Our work introduces a procedure for probing general tensorial target characteristics including global mode symmetries and local polarization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc R. Bourgeois
- Department of Chemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Austin G. Nixon
- Department of Chemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | | | - David J. Masiello
- Department of Chemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
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7
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Chahshouri F, Talebi N. Numerical investigation of sequential phase-locked optical gating of free electrons. Sci Rep 2023; 13:18949. [PMID: 37919329 PMCID: PMC10622506 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-45992-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent progress in coherent quantum interactions between free-electron pulses and laser-induced near-field light have revolutionized electron wavepacket shaping. Building on these advancements, we numerically explore the potential of sequential interactions between slow electrons and localized dipolar plasmons in a sequential phase-locked interaction scheme. Taking advantage of the prolonged interaction time between slow electrons and optical near-fields, we aim to explore the effect of plasmon dynamics on the free-electron wavepacket modulation. Our results demonstrate that the initial optical phase of the localized dipolar plasmon at the starting point of the interaction, along with the phase offset between the interaction zones, can serve as control parameters in manipulating the transverse and longitudinal recoil of the electron wavefunction. Moreover, it is shown that the incident angle of the laser light is an additional control knop for tailoring the longitudinal and transverse recoils. We show that a sequential phase-locking method can be employed to precisely manipulate the longitudinal and transverse recoil of the electron wavepacket, leading to selective acceleration or deceleration of the electron energy along specific diffraction angles. These findings have important implications for developing novel techniques for ultrafast electron-light interferometry, shaping the electron wavepacket, and quantum information processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatemeh Chahshouri
- Institute of Experimental and Applied Physics, Kiel University, 24098, Kiel, Germany.
| | - Nahid Talebi
- Institute of Experimental and Applied Physics, Kiel University, 24098, Kiel, Germany.
- Kiel, Nano, Surface, and Interface Science - KiNSIS, Kiel University, 24098, Kiel, Germany.
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8
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Gross N, Kuhs CT, Ostovar B, Chiang WY, Wilson KS, Volek TS, Faitz ZM, Carlin CC, Dionne JA, Zanni MT, Gruebele M, Roberts ST, Link S, Landes CF. Progress and Prospects in Optical Ultrafast Microscopy in the Visible Spectral Region: Transient Absorption and Two-Dimensional Microscopy. THE JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY. C, NANOMATERIALS AND INTERFACES 2023; 127:14557-14586. [PMID: 37554548 PMCID: PMC10406104 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcc.3c02091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2023] [Revised: 06/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/10/2023]
Abstract
Ultrafast optical microscopy, generally employed by incorporating ultrafast laser pulses into microscopes, can provide spatially resolved mechanistic insight into scientific problems ranging from hot carrier dynamics to biological imaging. This Review discusses the progress in different ultrafast microscopy techniques, with a focus on transient absorption and two-dimensional microscopy. We review the underlying principles of these techniques and discuss their respective advantages and applicability to different scientific questions. We also examine in detail how instrument parameters such as sensitivity, laser power, and temporal and spatial resolution must be addressed. Finally, we comment on future developments and emerging opportunities in the field of ultrafast microscopy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niklas Gross
- Department
of Chemistry, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
| | - Christopher T. Kuhs
- Army
Research Laboratory-South, U.S. Army DEVCOM, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
| | - Behnaz Ostovar
- Department
of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
| | - Wei-Yi Chiang
- Department
of Chemistry, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
| | - Kelly S. Wilson
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, United States
| | - Tanner S. Volek
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, United States
| | - Zachary M. Faitz
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin−Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, United States
| | - Claire C. Carlin
- Department
of Materials Science and Engineering, Stanford
University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
| | - Jennifer A. Dionne
- Department
of Materials Science and Engineering, Stanford
University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
- Department
of Radiology, Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford (MIPS), Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305, United States
| | - Martin T. Zanni
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin−Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, United States
| | - Martin Gruebele
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Illinois at
Urbana−Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
- Department
of Physics, University of Illinois at Urbana−Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
- Center
for Biophysics and Quantitative Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana−Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Sean T. Roberts
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, United States
| | - Stephan Link
- Department
of Chemistry, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
- Department
of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
| | - Christy F. Landes
- Department
of Chemistry, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
- Department
of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
- Department
of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
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9
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Vanacore GM. Coherent Manipulation of Ultrashort Free Electrons Pulses via Quantized Electron-Photon Interaction Mediated by Transversely- and Longitudinally-Shaped Optical Fields. MICROSCOPY AND MICROANALYSIS : THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF MICROSCOPY SOCIETY OF AMERICA, MICROBEAM ANALYSIS SOCIETY, MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 2023; 29:377. [PMID: 37613326 DOI: 10.1093/micmic/ozad067.177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/25/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Maria Vanacore
- Laboratory of Ultrafast Microscopy for Nanoscale Dynamics (LUMiNaD), Department of Materials Science, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milano, Italy
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10
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Ebel S, Talebi N. Inelastic electron scattering at a single-beam structured light wave. COMMUNICATIONS PHYSICS 2023; 6:179. [PMID: 38665404 PMCID: PMC11041727 DOI: 10.1038/s42005-023-01300-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
In free space, electrons undergo inelastic scattering in the presence of ponderomotive potentials generated by light pulses and standing light waves. The resulting modulated electron energy spectrum can exhibit the formation of discrete energy sidebands when multiple light beams are employed. Here, we demonstrate the inelastic scattering of slow-electron wavepackets at a propagating Hermite-Gaussian light beam. The pulsed Hermite-Gaussian beam thus forms a ponderomotive potential for the electron with sufficient momentum components, leading to the inelastic scattering and subsequent formation of discrete energy sidebands. We show that the resulting energy-gain spectra after the interaction are strongly influenced by the self-interference of the electrons in this ponderomotive potential. This effect is observable across various wavelengths, and the energy modulation can be controlled by varying the electron velocity and light intensity. By utilizing the vast landscape of structured electromagnetic fields, this effect introduces an additional platform for manipulating electron wavepackets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sven Ebel
- Institute of Experimental and Applied Physics, Kiel University, Kiel, Germany
| | - Nahid Talebi
- Institute of Experimental and Applied Physics, Kiel University, Kiel, Germany
- Kiel Nano, Surface and Interface Science KiNSIS, Kiel University, Kiel, Germany
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11
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García de Abajo FJ, Ropers C. Spatiotemporal Electron Beam Focusing through Parallel Interactions with Shaped Optical Fields. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2023; 130:246901. [PMID: 37390412 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.130.246901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2022] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 07/02/2023]
Abstract
The ability to modulate free electrons with light has emerged as a powerful tool to produce attosecond electron wave packets. However, research has so far aimed at the manipulation of the longitudinal wave function component, while the transverse degrees of freedom have primarily been utilized for spatial rather than temporal shaping. Here, we show that the coherent superposition of parallel light-electron interactions in transversally separate zones allows for a simultaneous spatial and temporal compression of a convergent electron wave function, enabling the formation of sub-Ångström focal spots of attosecond duration. Specifically, spots spanning just ∼3% of the light optical cycle are shown to be formed, accompanied by an increase by only a factor of 2 in spatial extension relative to an unperturbed beam. The proposed approach will facilitate the exploration of previously inaccessible ultrafast atomic-scale phenomena, in particular enabling attosecond scanning transmission electron microscopy.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Javier García de Abajo
- ICFO-Institut de Ciencies Fotoniques, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, 08860 Castelldefels, Barcelona, Spain
- ICREA-Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats, Passeig Lluís Companys 23, 08010 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Claus Ropers
- Department of Ultrafast Dynamics, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
- 4th Physical Institute - Solids and Nanostructures, University of Göttingen, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
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12
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Konečná A, Rotunno E, Grillo V, García de Abajo FJ, Vanacore GM. Single-Pixel Imaging in Space and Time with Optically Modulated Free Electrons. ACS PHOTONICS 2023; 10:1463-1472. [PMID: 37215321 PMCID: PMC10197172 DOI: 10.1021/acsphotonics.3c00047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Single-pixel imaging, originally developed in light optics, facilitates fast three-dimensional sample reconstruction as well as probing with light wavelengths undetectable by conventional multi-pixel detectors. However, the spatial resolution of optics-based single-pixel microscopy is limited by diffraction to hundreds of nanometers. Here, we propose an implementation of single-pixel imaging relying on attainable modifications of currently available ultrafast electron microscopes in which optically modulated electrons are used instead of photons to achieve subnanometer spatially and temporally resolved single-pixel imaging. We simulate electron beam profiles generated by interaction with the optical field produced by an externally programmable spatial light modulator and demonstrate the feasibility of the method by showing that the sample image and its temporal evolution can be reconstructed using realistic imperfect illumination patterns. Electron single-pixel imaging holds strong potential for application in low-dose probing of beam-sensitive biological and molecular samples, including rapid screening during in situ experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Konečná
- ICFO-Institut
de Ciencies Fotoniques, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Castelldefels, Barcelona 08860, Spain
- Central
European Institute of Technology, Brno University of Technology, 612 00 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Enzo Rotunno
- Centro
S3, Istituto di Nanoscienze-CNR, 41125 Modena, Italy
| | | | - F. Javier García de Abajo
- ICFO-Institut
de Ciencies Fotoniques, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Castelldefels, Barcelona 08860, Spain
- ICREA-Institució
Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats, Passeig Lluís Companys 23, 08010 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Giovanni Maria Vanacore
- Laboratory
of Ultrafast Microscopy for Nanoscale Dynamics (LUMiNaD), Department
of Materials Science, University of Milano-Bicocca, Via Cozzi 55, 20121 Milano, Italy
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13
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Konečná A, Iyikanat F, García de Abajo FJ. Entangling free electrons and optical excitations. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eabo7853. [PMID: 36427323 PMCID: PMC9699672 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abo7853] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2022] [Accepted: 10/07/2022] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
The inelastic interaction between flying particles and optical nanocavities gives rise to entangled states in which some excitations of the latter are paired with momentum changes in the former. Specifically, free-electron entanglement with nanocavity modes opens appealing opportunities associated with the strong interaction capabilities of the electrons. However, the achievable degree of entanglement is currently limited by the lack of control over the resulting state mixtures. Here, we propose a scheme to generate pure entanglement between designated optical-cavity excitations and separable free-electron states. We shape the electron wave function profile to select the accessible cavity modes and simultaneously associate them with targeted electron scattering directions. This concept is exemplified through theoretical calculations of free-electron entanglement with degenerate and nondegenerate plasmon modes in silver nanoparticles and atomic vibrations in an inorganic molecule. The generated entanglement can be further propagated through its electron component to extend quantum interactions beyond existing protocols.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Konečná
- ICFO-Institut de Ciencies Fotoniques, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Castelldefels, Barcelona 08860, Spain
- Central European Institute of Technology, Brno University of Technology, Brno 61200, Czech Republic
| | - Fadil Iyikanat
- ICFO-Institut de Ciencies Fotoniques, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Castelldefels, Barcelona 08860, Spain
| | - F. Javier García de Abajo
- ICFO-Institut de Ciencies Fotoniques, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Castelldefels, Barcelona 08860, Spain
- ICREA-Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats, Passeig Lluís Companys 23, 08010 Barcelona, Spain
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