Momentum space separation of quantum path interferences between photons and surface plasmon polaritons in nonlinear photoemission microscopy
Dreher Pascal,
Janoschka David,
Giessen Harald,
Schützhold Ralf,
Davis Timothy J.,
Horn-von Hoegen Michael,
Meyer zu Heringdorf Frank-J.
Affiliations
Dreher Pascal
Faculty of Physics and Center for Nanointegration, Duisburg-Essen (CENIDE), 27170University of Duisburg-Essen, 47048Duisburg, Germany
Janoschka David
Faculty of Physics and Center for Nanointegration, Duisburg-Essen (CENIDE), 27170University of Duisburg-Essen, 47048Duisburg, Germany
Giessen Harald
91494th Physics Institute, Research Center SCoPE, and Integrated Quantum Science and Technology Center, University of Stuttgart, 70569Stuttgart, Germany
Schützhold Ralf
Faculty of Physics and Center for Nanointegration, Duisburg-Essen (CENIDE), 27170University of Duisburg-Essen, 47048Duisburg, Germany
Davis Timothy J.
Faculty of Physics and Center for Nanointegration, Duisburg-Essen (CENIDE), 27170University of Duisburg-Essen, 47048Duisburg, Germany
Horn-von Hoegen Michael
Faculty of Physics and Center for Nanointegration, Duisburg-Essen (CENIDE), 27170University of Duisburg-Essen, 47048Duisburg, Germany
Meyer zu Heringdorf Frank-J.
Faculty of Physics and Center for Nanointegration, Duisburg-Essen (CENIDE), 27170University of Duisburg-Essen, 47048Duisburg, Germany
Quantum path interferences occur whenever multiple equivalent and coherent transitions result in a common final state. Such interferences strongly modify the probability of a particle to be found in that final state, a key concept of quantum coherent control. When multiple nonlinear and energy-degenerate transitions occur in a system, the multitude of possible quantum path interferences is hard to disentangle experimentally. Here, we analyze quantum path interferences during the nonlinear emission of electrons from hybrid plasmonic and photonic fields using time-resolved photoemission electron microscopy. We experimentally distinguish quantum path interferences by exploiting the momentum difference between photons and plasmons and through balancing the relative contributions of their respective fields. Our work provides a fundamental understanding of the nonlinear photon–plasmon–electron interaction. Distinguishing emission processes in momentum space, as introduced here, could allow nano-optical quantum-correlations to be studied without destroying the quantum path interferences.
