How to use lasers for imaging attosecond dynamics of nuclear processes

Phys Rev Lett. 2004 Jan 9;92(1):013002. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.92.013002. Epub 2004 Jan 8.

Abstract

We identify a laser configuration in which attosecond electron wave packets are ionized, accelerated to multi-MeV energies, and refocused onto their parent ion. Magnetic focusing of the electron wave packet results in return currents comparable with large scale accelerator facilities. This technique opens an avenue towards imaging attosecond dynamics of nuclear processes.