Visualization and manipulation of the intracycle spiral-like holographic structure by subcycle sculpted laser pulses

Abstract The recently observed strong-field photoelectron holographic pattern, ‘the spiral’, is considered as an ideal structure for target probing and the resolution of ultrafast dynamics. This intracycle interference pattern evolves into a carpet-like structure in multicycle laser pulses and is too indistinguishable in the photoelectron momentum distribution to be directly employed as a holographic tool. Using a semiclassical quantum-trajectory Monte Carlo model, we provide a laser field scheme for visualization of the spiral by adding a weak 1600 nm circularly polarized field to the 800 nm linearly polarized fundamental field. The results are verified by solving the time-dependent Schrödinger equation. Furthermore, by combining the variation of the relative phase between the two colors with the rotation direction of the circularly polarized field, we achieved the precise manipulation of the fringe direction of the spiral. Our investigation shows that these are based on the modulation of the proportion of the spiral produced in each single laser cycle, rather than that of the birth time difference between the two types of rescattering electrons that form the spiral.