Time double-slit interferences in strong-field tunneling ionization

Abstract

Oscillations in the electron emission spectrum of atoms ionized by few-cycle laser pulses were recently identified as a time double-slit interference F. Lindner et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 95, 040401 2005 . We extend this analysis to three-dimensional momentum images. We show that different portions of the wave packet released at different times interfere, forming interference fringes in the momentum distributions. The complex interference pattern observable in momentum space maps out information on the scattering potential.