1
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Fang Y, Kuttruff J, Nabben D, Baum P. Structured electrons with chiral mass and charge. Science 2024; 385:183-187. [PMID: 38991062 DOI: 10.1126/science.adp9143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2024] [Accepted: 05/30/2024] [Indexed: 07/13/2024]
Abstract
Chirality is a phenomenon with widespread relevance in fundamental physics, material science, chemistry, optics, and spectroscopy. In this work, we show that a free electron can be converted by the field cycles of laser light into a right-handed or left-handed coil of mass and charge. In contrast to phase-vortex beams, our electrons maintained a flat de Broglie wave but obtained their chirality from the shape of their expectation value in space and time. Measurements of wave function densities by attosecond gating revealed the three-dimensional shape of coils and double coils with left-handed or right-handed pitch. Engineered elementary particles with such or related chiral geometries should be useful for applications in chiral sensing, free-electron quantum optics, particle physics or electron microscopy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiqi Fang
- Universität Konstanz, Fachbereich Physik, 78464 Konstanz, Germany
| | - Joel Kuttruff
- Universität Konstanz, Fachbereich Physik, 78464 Konstanz, Germany
| | - David Nabben
- Universität Konstanz, Fachbereich Physik, 78464 Konstanz, Germany
| | - Peter Baum
- Universität Konstanz, Fachbereich Physik, 78464 Konstanz, Germany
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2
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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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3
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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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4
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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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5
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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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6
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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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7
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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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8
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Pan D, Xu H. Polarizing Free Electrons in Optical Near Fields. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2023; 130:186901. [PMID: 37204889 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.130.186901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2022] [Accepted: 03/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Polarizing electron beams using light is highly desirable but exceedingly challenging, as the approaches proposed in previous studies using free-space light usually require enormous laser intensities. Here, we propose the use of a transverse electric optical near field, extended on nanostructures, to efficiently polarize an adjacent electron beam by exploiting the strong inelastic electron scattering in phase-matched optical near fields. Intriguingly, the two spin components of an unpolarized incident electron beam-parallel and antiparallel to the electric field-are spin-flipped and inelastically scattered to different energy states, providing an analog of the Stern-Gerlach experiment in the energy dimension. Our calculations show that when a dramatically reduced laser intensity of ∼10^{12} W/cm^{2} and a short interaction length of 16 μm are used, an unpolarized incident electron beam interacting with the excited optical near field can produce two spin-polarized electron beams, both exhibiting near unity spin purity and a 6% brightness relative to the input beam. Our findings are important for optical control of free-electron spins, preparation of spin-polarized electron beams, and applications in material science and high-energy physics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deng Pan
- State Key Laboratory of Precision Spectroscopy, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, China
- Institute of Quantum Materials and Physics, Henan Academy of Sciences, Zhengzhou 450046, China
| | - Hongxing Xu
- Institute of Quantum Materials and Physics, Henan Academy of Sciences, Zhengzhou 450046, China
- School of Physics and Technology, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
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9
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Tsesses S, Dahan R, Wang K, Bucher T, Cohen K, Reinhardt O, Bartal G, Kaminer I. Tunable photon-induced spatial modulation of free electrons. NATURE MATERIALS 2023; 22:345-352. [PMID: 36702889 DOI: 10.1038/s41563-022-01449-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2021] [Accepted: 11/26/2022] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Spatial modulation of electron beams is an essential tool for various applications such as nanolithography and imaging, yet its conventional implementations are severely limited and inherently non-tunable. Conversely, proposals of light-driven electron spatial modulation promise tunable electron wavefront shaping, for example, using the mechanism of photon-induced near-field electron microscopy. Here we present tunable photon-induced spatial modulation of electrons through their interaction with externally controlled surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs). Using recently developed methods of shaping SPP patterns, we demonstrate a dynamic control of the electron beam with a variety of electron distributions and verify their coherence through electron diffraction. Finally, the nonlinearity stemming from energy post-selection provides us with another avenue for controlling the electron shape, generating electron features far below the SPP wavelength. Our work paves the way to on-demand electron wavefront shaping at ultrafast timescales, with prospects for aberration correction, nanofabrication and material characterization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shai Tsesses
- Andrew and Erna Viterbi Department of Electrical Engineering, Technion, Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Raphael Dahan
- Andrew and Erna Viterbi Department of Electrical Engineering, Technion, Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
- Solid State Institute, Technion, Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Kangpeng Wang
- Andrew and Erna Viterbi Department of Electrical Engineering, Technion, Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
- Solid State Institute, Technion, Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
- Shanghai Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Tomer Bucher
- Andrew and Erna Viterbi Department of Electrical Engineering, Technion, Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
- Solid State Institute, Technion, Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Kobi Cohen
- Andrew and Erna Viterbi Department of Electrical Engineering, Technion, Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Ori Reinhardt
- Andrew and Erna Viterbi Department of Electrical Engineering, Technion, Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
- Solid State Institute, Technion, Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Guy Bartal
- Andrew and Erna Viterbi Department of Electrical Engineering, Technion, Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Ido Kaminer
- Andrew and Erna Viterbi Department of Electrical Engineering, Technion, Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel.
- Solid State Institute, Technion, Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel.
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10
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Morimoto Y. Attosecond electron-beam technology: a review of recent progress. Microscopy (Oxf) 2023; 72:2-17. [PMID: 36269108 DOI: 10.1093/jmicro/dfac054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2022] [Revised: 10/14/2022] [Accepted: 10/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Electron microscopy and diffraction with ultrashort pulsed electron beams are capable of imaging transient phenomena with the combined ultrafast temporal and atomic-scale spatial resolutions. The emerging field of optical electron beam control allowed the manipulation of relativistic and sub-relativistic electron beams at the level of optical cycles. Specifically, it enabled the generation of electron beams in the form of attosecond pulse trains and individual attosecond pulses. In this review, we describe the basics of the attosecond electron beam control and overview the recent experimental progress. High-energy electron pulses of attosecond sub-optical cycle duration open up novel opportunities for space-time-resolved imaging of ultrafast chemical and physical processes, coherent photon generation, free electron quantum optics, electron-atom scattering with shaped wave packets and laser-driven particle acceleration. Graphical Abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuya Morimoto
- Ultrashort Electron Beam Science RIKEN Hakubi research team, RIKEN Cluster for Pioneering Research (CPR), RIKEN Center for Advanced Photonics (RAP), 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako, Saitama 351-0198, Japan.,Department of Nuclear Engineering and Management, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
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11
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Du DX, Fitzpatrick AW. Design of an ultrafast pulsed ponderomotive phase plate for cryo-electron tomography. CELL REPORTS METHODS 2023; 3:100387. [PMID: 36814846 PMCID: PMC9939428 DOI: 10.1016/j.crmeth.2022.100387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2022] [Revised: 09/09/2022] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Ponderomotive phase plates have shown that temporally consistent phase contrast is possible within electron microscopes via high-fluence static laser modes resonating in Fabry-Perot cavities. Here, we explore using pulsed laser beams as an alternative method of generating high fluences. We find through forward-stepping finite element models that picosecond or shorter interactions are required for meaningful fluences and phase shifts, with higher pulse energies and smaller beam waists leading to predicted higher fluences. An additional model based on quasi-classical assumptions is used to discover the shape of the phase plate by incorporating the oscillatory nature of the electric field. From these results, we find the transient nature of the laser pulses removes the influence of Kapitza-Dirac diffraction patterns that appear in the static resonator cases. We conclude by predicting that a total laser pulse energy of 8.7 μJ is enough to induce the required π/2 phase shift for Zernike-like phase microscopy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel X. Du
- Mortimer B. Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer’s Disease and the Aging Brain, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, 630 West 168th Street, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Anthony W.P. Fitzpatrick
- Mortimer B. Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer’s Disease and the Aging Brain, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, 630 West 168th Street, New York, NY 10032, USA
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12
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Di Giulio V, García de Abajo FJ. Optical-cavity mode squeezing by free electrons. NANOPHOTONICS 2022; 11:4659-4670. [PMID: 36482983 PMCID: PMC9709710 DOI: 10.1515/nanoph-2022-0481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2022] [Accepted: 09/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The generation of nonclassical light states bears a paramount importance in quantum optics and is largely relying on the interaction between intense laser pulses and nonlinear media. Recently, electron beams, such as those used in ultrafast electron microscopy to retrieve information from a specimen, have been proposed as a tool to manipulate both bright and dark confined optical excitations, inducing semiclassical states of light that range from coherent to thermal mixtures. Here, we show that the ponderomotive contribution to the electron-cavity interaction, which we argue to be significant for low-energy electrons subject to strongly confined near-fields, can actually create a more general set of optical states, including coherent and squeezed states. The postinteraction electron spectrum further reveals signatures of the nontrivial role played by A 2 terms in the light-matter coupling Hamiltonian, particularly when the cavity is previously excited by either chaotic or coherent illumination. Our work introduces a disruptive approach to the creation of nontrivial quantum cavity states for quantum information and optics applications, while it suggests unexplored possibilities for electron beam shaping.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valerio Di Giulio
- ICFO-Institut de Ciencies Fotoniques, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, 08860Castelldefels, Barcelona, Spain
| | - F. Javier García de Abajo
- ICFO-Institut de Ciencies Fotoniques, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, 08860Castelldefels, Barcelona, Spain
- ICREA-Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats, Passeig Lluís Companys 23, 08010,Barcelona, Spain
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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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14
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Akbari K, Di Giulio V, García de Abajo FJ. Optical manipulation of matter waves. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eabq2659. [PMID: 36260664 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abq2659] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Light is used to steer the motion of atoms in free space, enabling cooling and trapping of matter waves through ponderomotive forces and Doppler-mediated photon scattering. Likewise, light interaction with free electrons has recently emerged as a versatile approach to modulate the electron wave function for applications in ultrafast electron microscopy. Here, we combine these two worlds, theoretically demonstrating that matter waves can be optically manipulated via inelastic interactions with optical fields. This allows us to modulate the translational part of the wave function and produce temporally and spatially compressed atomic beam pulses. We realize such modulation through stimulated photon absorption and emission by atoms traversing phase-matching evanescent optical fields generated upon light scattering by a nanostructure and via stimulated Compton scattering in free space without any assistance from material media. Our results support optical manipulation of matter waves as a powerful tool for microscopy, spectroscopy, and exploration of fundamental phenomena associated with light-atom interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kamran Akbari
- ICFO-Institut de Ciencies Fotoniques, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, 08860 Castelldefels, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Valerio Di Giulio
- ICFO-Institut de Ciencies Fotoniques, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, 08860 Castelldefels, Barcelona, Spain
| | - 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
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15
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Madan I, Leccese V, Mazur A, Barantani F, LaGrange T, Sapozhnik A, Tengdin PM, Gargiulo S, Rotunno E, Olaya JC, Kaminer I, Grillo V, de Abajo FJG, Carbone F, Vanacore GM. Ultrafast Transverse Modulation of Free Electrons by Interaction with Shaped Optical Fields. ACS PHOTONICS 2022; 9:3215-3224. [PMID: 36281329 PMCID: PMC9585634 DOI: 10.1021/acsphotonics.2c00850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2022] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Spatiotemporal electron-beam shaping is a bold frontier of electron microscopy. Over the past decade, shaping methods evolved from static phase plates to low-speed electrostatic and magnetostatic displays. Recently, a swift change of paradigm utilizing light to control free electrons has emerged. Here, we experimentally demonstrate arbitrary transverse modulation of electron beams without complicated electron-optics elements or material nanostructures, but rather using shaped light beams. On-demand spatial modulation of electron wavepackets is obtained via inelastic interaction with transversely shaped ultrafast light fields controlled by an external spatial light modulator. We illustrate this method for the cases of Hermite-Gaussian and Laguerre-Gaussian modulation and discuss their use in enhancing microscope sensitivity. Our approach dramatically widens the range of patterns that can be imprinted on the electron profile and greatly facilitates tailored electron-beam shaping.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivan Madan
- Institute
of Physics, École Polytechnique Fédérale
de Lausanne, Lausanne, 1015, Switzerland
| | - Veronica Leccese
- Institute
of Physics, École Polytechnique Fédérale
de Lausanne, Lausanne, 1015, Switzerland
| | - Adam Mazur
- HOLOEYE
Photonics AG, Volmerstrasse 1, 12489 Berlin, Germany
| | - Francesco Barantani
- Institute
of Physics, École Polytechnique Fédérale
de Lausanne, Lausanne, 1015, Switzerland
- Department
of Quantum Matter Physics, University of
Geneva, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Thomas LaGrange
- Institute
of Physics, École Polytechnique Fédérale
de Lausanne, Lausanne, 1015, Switzerland
| | - Alexey Sapozhnik
- Institute
of Physics, École Polytechnique Fédérale
de Lausanne, Lausanne, 1015, Switzerland
| | - Phoebe M. Tengdin
- Institute
of Physics, École Polytechnique Fédérale
de Lausanne, Lausanne, 1015, Switzerland
| | - Simone Gargiulo
- Institute
of Physics, École Polytechnique Fédérale
de Lausanne, Lausanne, 1015, Switzerland
| | - Enzo Rotunno
- Centro
S3, Istituto di Nanoscienze-CNR, 41125 Modena, Italy
| | | | - Ido Kaminer
- Department
of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Technion, Haifa 32000, Israel
| | | | - 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
| | - Fabrizio Carbone
- Institute
of Physics, École Polytechnique Fédérale
de Lausanne, Lausanne, 1015, Switzerland
| | - Giovanni Maria Vanacore
- Department
of Materials Science, University of Milano-Bicocca, Via Cozzi 55, 20126 Milano, Italy
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16
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Roitman D, Shiloh R, Lu PH, Dunin-Borkowski RE, Arie A. Shaping of Electron Beams Using Sculpted Thin Films. ACS PHOTONICS 2021; 8:3394-3405. [PMID: 34938823 PMCID: PMC8679091 DOI: 10.1021/acsphotonics.1c00951] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2021] [Revised: 10/31/2021] [Accepted: 11/04/2021] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Electron beam shaping by sculpted thin films relies on electron-matter interactions and the wave nature of electrons. It can be used to study physical phenomena of special electron beams and to develop technological applications in electron microscopy that offer new and improved measurement techniques and increased resolution in different imaging modes. In this Perspective, we review recent applications of sculpted thin films for electron orbital angular momentum sorting, improvements in phase contrast transmission electron microscopy, and aberration correction. For the latter, we also present new results of our work toward correction of the spherical aberration of Lorentz scanning transmission electron microscopes and suggest a method to correct chromatic aberration using thin films. This review provides practical insight for researchers in the field and motivates future progress in electron microscopy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dolev Roitman
- School
of Electrical Engineering, Fleischman Faculty of Engineering, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
| | - Roy Shiloh
- Physics
Department, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität
Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen 91058, Germany
| | - Peng-Han Lu
- Ernst
Ruska-Centre for Microscopy and Spectroscopy with Electrons and Peter
Grünberg Institute, Forschungszentrum
Jülich, Jülich 52428, Germany
- RWTH
Aachen University, Aachen 52062, Germany
| | - Rafal E. Dunin-Borkowski
- Ernst
Ruska-Centre for Microscopy and Spectroscopy with Electrons and Peter
Grünberg Institute, Forschungszentrum
Jülich, Jülich 52428, Germany
| | - Ady Arie
- School
of Electrical Engineering, Fleischman Faculty of Engineering, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
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17
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Henke JW, Raja AS, Feist A, Huang G, Arend G, Yang Y, Kappert FJ, Wang RN, Möller M, Pan J, Liu J, Kfir O, Ropers C, Kippenberg TJ. Integrated photonics enables continuous-beam electron phase modulation. Nature 2021; 600:653-658. [PMID: 34937900 PMCID: PMC8695378 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-021-04197-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2021] [Accepted: 11/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Integrated photonics facilitates extensive control over fundamental light-matter interactions in manifold quantum systems including atoms1, trapped ions2,3, quantum dots4 and defect centres5. Ultrafast electron microscopy has recently made free-electron beams the subject of laser-based quantum manipulation and characterization6-11, enabling the observation of free-electron quantum walks12-14, attosecond electron pulses10,15-17 and holographic electromagnetic imaging18. Chip-based photonics19,20 promises unique applications in nanoscale quantum control and sensing but remains to be realized in electron microscopy. Here we merge integrated photonics with electron microscopy, demonstrating coherent phase modulation of a continuous electron beam using a silicon nitride microresonator. The high-finesse (Q0 ≈ 106) cavity enhancement and a waveguide designed for phase matching lead to efficient electron-light scattering at extremely low, continuous-wave optical powers. Specifically, we fully deplete the initial electron state at a cavity-coupled power of only 5.35 microwatts and generate >500 electron energy sidebands for several milliwatts. Moreover, we probe unidirectional intracavity fields with microelectronvolt resolution in electron-energy-gain spectroscopy21. The fibre-coupled photonic structures feature single-optical-mode electron-light interaction with full control over the input and output light. This approach establishes a versatile and highly efficient framework for enhanced electron beam control in the context of laser phase plates22, beam modulators and continuous-wave attosecond pulse trains23, resonantly enhanced spectroscopy24-26 and dielectric laser acceleration19,20,27. Our work introduces a universal platform for exploring free-electron quantum optics28-31, with potential future developments in strong coupling, local quantum probing and electron-photon entanglement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan-Wilke Henke
- Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
- Max Planck Institute of Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Arslan Sajid Raja
- Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Armin Feist
- Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
- Max Planck Institute of Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Guanhao Huang
- Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
- Center for Quantum Science and Engineering, EPFL, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Germaine Arend
- Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
- Max Planck Institute of Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Yujia Yang
- Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
- Center for Quantum Science and Engineering, EPFL, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - F Jasmin Kappert
- Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
- Max Planck Institute of Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Rui Ning Wang
- Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
- Center for Quantum Science and Engineering, EPFL, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Marcel Möller
- Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
- Max Planck Institute of Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Jiahe Pan
- Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
- Center for Quantum Science and Engineering, EPFL, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Junqiu Liu
- Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Ofer Kfir
- Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
- Max Planck Institute of Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Claus Ropers
- Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.
- Max Planck Institute of Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen, Germany.
| | - Tobias J Kippenberg
- Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland.
- Center for Quantum Science and Engineering, EPFL, Lausanne, Switzerland.
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