Ultrafast Time-Resolved Photoelectric Emission

The emission times of laser-triggered electrons from a sharp tungsten tip are directly characterized under ultrafast, near-infrared laser excitation at Keldysh parameters of 6.6 < gamma < 19.1. Emission delays up to 10 fs are observed, which are inferred from the energy gain of photoelectrons emitted into a synchronously driven microwave cavity. Few femtosecond timing resolution is achieved in a configuration capable of measuring timing shifts up to 55 ps. The technique can also be used to measure the microwave phase inside the cavity with a precision below 70 fs upon the energy resolved detection of a single electron.