Generation of isolated attosecond electron sheet via relativistic spatiotemporal optical manipulation

Abstract

Novel phase-locked acceleration of a relativistic isolated attosecond electron sheet was realized using a relativistic reflected spatiotemporal optical vortex (STOV) pulse in three-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations. Electrons can be trapped in a spatiotemporal phase singularity within the STOV pulse center, modulated into an approximately 600-attosecond duration sheet. Furthermore, electrons can be phase-locked accelerated to the order of GeV in the longitudinal direction. Such an isolated attosecond electron sheet driven by the intense STOV pulse can be used in isolated attosecond pulse generation, ultrashort x/γ-ray radiation, and attosecond electron diffraction.