The time delay between the pump and probe pulses in attosecond time-resolved experiments, such as attosecond streaking, is commonly introduced by splitting and recombining the two pulses in an interferometer. This technique suffers from instability in the optical path lengths of the two arms due to mechanical vibration of the optical elements and fluctuating environmental conditions. We present a technique with which the instability of the unconventional interferometer is suppressed while at the same time the time delay is controlled to within 20 as RMS using a feedback loop. Using this scheme, the streaked spectrogram of an attosecond pulse was measured.

© 2009 OSA

1. J. Itatani, F. Quéré, G. L. Yudin, M. Yu. Ivanov, F. Krausz, and P. B. Corkum, “Attosecond streak camera,” Phys. Rev. Lett. 88(17), 173903 (2002). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
2. G. Sansone, E. Benedetti, F. Calegari, C. Vozzi, L. Avaldi, R. Flammini, L. Poletto, P. Villoresi, C. Altucci, R. Velotta, S. Stagira, S. De Silvestri, and M. Nisoli, “Isolated single-cycle attosecond pulses,” Science 314(5798), 443–446 (2006). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
3. S. Gilbertson, X. Feng, S. Khan, M. Chini, H. Wang, H. Mashiko, and Z. Chang, “Direct measurement of an electric field in femtosecond Bessel-Gaussian beams,” Opt. Lett. 34(16), 2390–2392 (2009). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
4. E. Goulielmakis, M. Schultze, M. Hofstetter, V. S. Yakovlev, J. Gagnon, M. Uiberacker, A. L. Aquila, E. M. Gullikson, D. T. Attwood, R. Kienberger, F. Krausz, and U. Kleineberg, “Single-cycle nonlinear optics,” Science 320(5883), 1614–1617 (2008). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
5. M. Chini, H. Wang, S. D. Khan, S. Chen, and Z. Chang, “Retrieval of satellite pulses of single isolated attosecond pulses,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 94(16), 161112 (2009). [CrossRef]
6. M. Drescher, M. Hentschel, R. Kienberger, M. Uiberacker, V. Yakovlev, A. Scrinzi, T. Westerwalbesloh, U. Kleineberg, U. Heinzmann, and F. Krausz, “Time-resolved atomic inner-shell spectroscopy,” Nature 419(6909), 803–807 (2002). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
7. R. Kienberger, E. Goulielmakis, M. Uiberacker, A. Baltuška, V. Yakovlev, F. Bammer, A. Scrinzi, T. Westerwalbesloh, U. Kleineberg, U. Heinzmann, M. Drescher, and F. Krausz, “Atomic transient recorder,” Nature 427(6977), 817–821 (2004). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
8. E. Goulielmakis, V. S. Yakovlev, A. L. Cavalieri, M. Uiberacker, V. Pervak, A. Apolonski, R. Kienberger, U. Kleineberg, and F. Krausz, “Attosecond control and measurement: lightwave electronics,” Science 317(5839), 769–775 (2007). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
9. M. Uiberacker, T. Uphues, M. Schultze, A. J. Verhoef, V. Yakovlev, M. F. Kling, J. Rauschenberger, N. M. Kabachnik, H. Schröder, M. Lezius, K. L. Kompa, H. G. Muller, M. J. J. Vrakking, S. Hendel, U. Kleineberg, U. Heinzmann, M. Drescher, and F. Krausz, “Attosecond real-time observation of electron tunnelling in atoms,” Nature 446(7136), 627–632 (2007). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
10. S. Gilbertson, X. Feng, S. Khan, M. Chini, H. Wang, and Z. Chang, “Probing Laser Disturbed Doubly Excited States with Isolated Attosecond Pulses,” in Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics/International Quantum Electronics Conference, Technical Digest (CD) (Optical Society of America, 2009), paper IPDA8.
11. M. F. Kling, S. Zherebtsov, I. Znakovskaya, T. Uphues, G. Sansone, E. Benedetti, F. Ferrari, M. Nisoli, F. Lepine, M. Swoboda, T. Remetter, A. L'Huillier, F. Kelkensberg, W. K. Siu, O. Ghafur, P. Johnsson, and M. J. Vrakking, “Attosecond Control of Electron Localization in One- and Two-Color Dissociative Ionization of H2 and D2,” in Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics/Quantum Electronics and Laser Science, Technical Digest (CD) (Optical Society of America, 2008), paper JFH1.
12. A. L. Cavalieri, N. Müller, T. Uphues, V. S. Yakovlev, A. Baltuška, B. Horvath, B. Schmidt, L. Blümel, R. Holzwarth, S. Hendel, M. Drescher, U. Kleineberg, P. M. Echenique, R. Kienberger, F. Krausz, and U. Heinzmann, “Attosecond spectroscopy in condensed matter,” Nature 449(7165), 1029–1032 (2007). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
13. H. Mashiko, S. Gilbertson, C. Q. Li, S. D. Khan, M. M. Shakya, E. Moon, and Z. Chang, “Double optical gating of high-order harmonic generation with carrier-envelope phase stabilized lasers,” Phys. Rev. Lett. 100(10), 103906 (2008). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
14. P. Tzallas, E. Skantzakis, C. Kalpouzos, E. P. Benis, G. D. Tsakiris, and D. Charalambidis, “Generation of intense continuum extreme-ultraviolet radiation by many-cycle laser fields,” Nat. Phys. 3(12), 846–850 (2007). [CrossRef]
15. H. Mashiko, S. Gilbertson, E. Moon, and Z. Chang, “Extreme ultraviolet supercontinua supporting pulse durations of less than one atomic unit of time,” Opt. Lett . 34, 3337-3339 (2009). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
16. G. Sansone, F. Ferrari, C. Vozzi, F. Calegari, S. Stagira, and M. Nisoli, “Towards atomic unit pulse duration by polarization-controlled few-cycle pulses,” J. Phys. At. Mol. Opt. Phys. 42(13), 134005 (2009). [CrossRef]
17. R. López-Martens, K. Varjú, P. Johnsson, J. Mauritsson, Y. Mairesse, P. Salières, M. B. Gaarde, K. J. Schafer, A. Persson, S. Svanberg, C. G. Wahlström, and A. L’Huillier, “Amplitude and phase control of attosecond light pulses,” Phys. Rev. Lett. 94(3), 033001 (2005). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
18. E. Moon, C. Li, Z. Duan, J. Tackett, K. L. Corwin, B. R. Washburn, and Z. Chang, “Reduction of fast carrier-envelope phase jitter in femtosecond laser amplifiers,” Opt. Express 14(21), 9758–9763 (2006). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
19. 19S. Chen, M Chini, H Wang,, C Yun, H Mashiko, Y Wu, and Z Chang, “Carrier-envelope phase stabilization and control of 1kHz, 6mJ, 30 fs laser pulses from a Ti:sapphire regenerative amplifier,” Appl. Opt. 48, 5692–5695 (2009). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
20. S. Gilbertson, H. Mashiko, C. Li, S. D. Khan, M. M. Shakya, E. Moon, and Z. Chang, “A Low-loss, robust setup for double optical gating of high harmonic generation,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 92(7), 071109 (2008). [CrossRef]
21. L. Lepetit, G. Chériaux, and M. Joffre, “Linear techniques of phase measurement by femtosecond spectral interferometry for applications in spectroscopy,” J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 12(12), 2467–2474 (1995). [CrossRef]
22. M. J. J. Vrakking, “An iterative procedure for the inversion of two-dimensional ion/photoelectron imaging experiments,” Rev. Sci. Instrum. 72(11), 4084–4089 (2001). [CrossRef]
23. H. Wang, M. Chini, S. D. Khan, S. Chen, S. Gilbertson, X. Feng, H. Mashiko, and Z. Chang, “Practical issues of retrieving isolated attosecond pulses,” J. Phys. At. Mol. Opt. Phys. 42(13), 134007 (2009). [CrossRef]

Appl. Opt.

• 19S. Chen, M Chini, H Wang,, C Yun, H Mashiko, Y Wu, and Z Chang, “Carrier-envelope phase stabilization and control of 1kHz, 6mJ, 30 fs laser pulses from a Ti:sapphire regenerative amplifier,” Appl. Opt. 48, 5692–5695 (2009). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

Appl. Phys. Lett.

• S. Gilbertson, H. Mashiko, C. Li, S. D. Khan, M. M. Shakya, E. Moon, and Z. Chang, “A Low-loss, robust setup for double optical gating of high harmonic generation,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 92(7), 071109 (2008). [CrossRef]
• M. Chini, H. Wang, S. D. Khan, S. Chen, and Z. Chang, “Retrieval of satellite pulses of single isolated attosecond pulses,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 94(16), 161112 (2009). [CrossRef]

J. Opt. Soc. Am. B

• L. Lepetit, G. Chériaux, and M. Joffre, “Linear techniques of phase measurement by femtosecond spectral interferometry for applications in spectroscopy,” J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 12(12), 2467–2474 (1995). [CrossRef]

J. Phys. At. Mol. Opt. Phys.

• H. Wang, M. Chini, S. D. Khan, S. Chen, S. Gilbertson, X. Feng, H. Mashiko, and Z. Chang, “Practical issues of retrieving isolated attosecond pulses,” J. Phys. At. Mol. Opt. Phys. 42(13), 134007 (2009). [CrossRef]
• G. Sansone, F. Ferrari, C. Vozzi, F. Calegari, S. Stagira, and M. Nisoli, “Towards atomic unit pulse duration by polarization-controlled few-cycle pulses,” J. Phys. At. Mol. Opt. Phys. 42(13), 134005 (2009). [CrossRef]

Nat. Phys.

• P. Tzallas, E. Skantzakis, C. Kalpouzos, E. P. Benis, G. D. Tsakiris, and D. Charalambidis, “Generation of intense continuum extreme-ultraviolet radiation by many-cycle laser fields,” Nat. Phys. 3(12), 846–850 (2007). [CrossRef]

Nature

• M. Uiberacker, T. Uphues, M. Schultze, A. J. Verhoef, V. Yakovlev, M. F. Kling, J. Rauschenberger, N. M. Kabachnik, H. Schröder, M. Lezius, K. L. Kompa, H. G. Muller, M. J. J. Vrakking, S. Hendel, U. Kleineberg, U. Heinzmann, M. Drescher, and F. Krausz, “Attosecond real-time observation of electron tunnelling in atoms,” Nature 446(7136), 627–632 (2007). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• A. L. Cavalieri, N. Müller, T. Uphues, V. S. Yakovlev, A. Baltuška, B. Horvath, B. Schmidt, L. Blümel, R. Holzwarth, S. Hendel, M. Drescher, U. Kleineberg, P. M. Echenique, R. Kienberger, F. Krausz, and U. Heinzmann, “Attosecond spectroscopy in condensed matter,” Nature 449(7165), 1029–1032 (2007). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• M. Drescher, M. Hentschel, R. Kienberger, M. Uiberacker, V. Yakovlev, A. Scrinzi, T. Westerwalbesloh, U. Kleineberg, U. Heinzmann, and F. Krausz, “Time-resolved atomic inner-shell spectroscopy,” Nature 419(6909), 803–807 (2002). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• R. Kienberger, E. Goulielmakis, M. Uiberacker, A. Baltuška, V. Yakovlev, F. Bammer, A. Scrinzi, T. Westerwalbesloh, U. Kleineberg, U. Heinzmann, M. Drescher, and F. Krausz, “Atomic transient recorder,” Nature 427(6977), 817–821 (2004). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

Opt. Express

• E. Moon, C. Li, Z. Duan, J. Tackett, K. L. Corwin, B. R. Washburn, and Z. Chang, “Reduction of fast carrier-envelope phase jitter in femtosecond laser amplifiers,” Opt. Express 14(21), 9758–9763 (2006). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

Opt. Lett.

• S. Gilbertson, X. Feng, S. Khan, M. Chini, H. Wang, H. Mashiko, and Z. Chang, “Direct measurement of an electric field in femtosecond Bessel-Gaussian beams,” Opt. Lett. 34(16), 2390–2392 (2009). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

Phys. Rev. Lett.

• J. Itatani, F. Quéré, G. L. Yudin, M. Yu. Ivanov, F. Krausz, and P. B. Corkum, “Attosecond streak camera,” Phys. Rev. Lett. 88(17), 173903 (2002). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• H. Mashiko, S. Gilbertson, C. Q. Li, S. D. Khan, M. M. Shakya, E. Moon, and Z. Chang, “Double optical gating of high-order harmonic generation with carrier-envelope phase stabilized lasers,” Phys. Rev. Lett. 100(10), 103906 (2008). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• R. López-Martens, K. Varjú, P. Johnsson, J. Mauritsson, Y. Mairesse, P. Salières, M. B. Gaarde, K. J. Schafer, A. Persson, S. Svanberg, C. G. Wahlström, and A. L’Huillier, “Amplitude and phase control of attosecond light pulses,” Phys. Rev. Lett. 94(3), 033001 (2005). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

Rev. Sci. Instrum.

• M. J. J. Vrakking, “An iterative procedure for the inversion of two-dimensional ion/photoelectron imaging experiments,” Rev. Sci. Instrum. 72(11), 4084–4089 (2001). [CrossRef]

Science

• G. Sansone, E. Benedetti, F. Calegari, C. Vozzi, L. Avaldi, R. Flammini, L. Poletto, P. Villoresi, C. Altucci, R. Velotta, S. Stagira, S. De Silvestri, and M. Nisoli, “Isolated single-cycle attosecond pulses,” Science 314(5798), 443–446 (2006). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• E. Goulielmakis, M. Schultze, M. Hofstetter, V. S. Yakovlev, J. Gagnon, M. Uiberacker, A. L. Aquila, E. M. Gullikson, D. T. Attwood, R. Kienberger, F. Krausz, and U. Kleineberg, “Single-cycle nonlinear optics,” Science 320(5883), 1614–1617 (2008). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• E. Goulielmakis, V. S. Yakovlev, A. L. Cavalieri, M. Uiberacker, V. Pervak, A. Apolonski, R. Kienberger, U. Kleineberg, and F. Krausz, “Attosecond control and measurement: lightwave electronics,” Science 317(5839), 769–775 (2007). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

Other

• H. Mashiko, S. Gilbertson, E. Moon, and Z. Chang, “Extreme ultraviolet supercontinua supporting pulse durations of less than one atomic unit of time,” Opt. Lett . 34, 3337-3339 (2009). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• S. Gilbertson, X. Feng, S. Khan, M. Chini, H. Wang, and Z. Chang, “Probing Laser Disturbed Doubly Excited States with Isolated Attosecond Pulses,” in Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics/International Quantum Electronics Conference, Technical Digest (CD) (Optical Society of America, 2009), paper IPDA8.
• M. F. Kling, S. Zherebtsov, I. Znakovskaya, T. Uphues, G. Sansone, E. Benedetti, F. Ferrari, M. Nisoli, F. Lepine, M. Swoboda, T. Remetter, A. L'Huillier, F. Kelkensberg, W. K. Siu, O. Ghafur, P. Johnsson, and M. J. Vrakking, “Attosecond Control of Electron Localization in One- and Two-Color Dissociative Ionization of H2 and D2,” in Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics/Quantum Electronics and Laser Science, Technical Digest (CD) (Optical Society of America, 2008), paper JFH1.

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