Abstract

We studied attosecond electron emission and acceleration from isolated dielectric and metallic nanoparticles in strong waveform-controlled 4-fs laser fields. Semi-classical simulations indicate that the acceleration mechanism is based on rescattering in enhanced near-fields of the particles. Propagation effects are observed in dielectric particles with diameters exceeding a quarter of the laser wavelength. The results open a door to efficiently accelerate electrons toward the laser propagation direction.

© 2012 Optical Society of America