Magic angle detection of nonlinear Newton-Wigner times at interfaces

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Published 5 March 2007 Europhysics Letters Association
, , Citation G. Loas et al 2007 EPL 77 64003 DOI 10.1209/0295-5075/77/64003

0295-5075/77/6/64003

Abstract

The existence of nonlinear Newton-Wigner delay-times in the femtosecond range is demonstrated using a pulsed laser beam with rotating polarization impinging on an interface together with a time-resolved differential detection at a "magic angle". Experimentally, increasing the incident power by a factor of 10 leads to a decrease in the delay-time by more than 70% at total reflection. In contrast, below the critical incidence angle, the same power variation leads to a huge increase in the delay-time. Intrinsic nonlinear Newton-Wigner delays are also expected in quantum reflection and the magic angle method could be extended to shorter pulses, down to the attosecond domain. Possible applications are discussed.

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10.1209/0295-5075/77/64003