Quantum-controlled electron wavepackets in the scanning electron microscope

Quantum-controlled electron wavepackets in the scanning electron microscope

Work Activities

In this project, you will explore the interaction between high-energy electrons and intense nanostructured light fields in a scanning electron microscope. During this interaction, electrons can absorb or emit one or more photon energy quanta, placing them into a quantum mechanical superposition state. As a result, the electron—initially a point charge— transforms into a complex wavepacket in space and time. The goal of this project is to investigate the use of optical metasurfaces to control nanoscale light fields, with the aim of shaping the electron energy spectrum and wavepacket profile at will. These shaped wavepackets could enable novel forms of ultrafast quantum-coherent materials spectroscopy. The project involves nanofabrication of metasurfaces, setting up a system to modulate light fields, and measuring the electron energy and light emission spectra and thei...