Single attosecond pulse generation in He+ by controlling the instant ionization rate using attosecond pulse trains combined with an intense laser pulse

High-order harmonics and single attosecond pulse generation by using an infrared laser pulse combined with attosecond pulse trains (APT) interacting with He+ have been investigated. We show that the ionization for different instant time intervals can be controlled by altering the time delay between the APT and the infrared pulse. Consequently, APT can be used as a tool to control the efficiency of high-order harmonics emitted at different times. By choosing appropriate APT and time delay, the driving pulse width for single attosecond pulse generation can be extended up to six optical cycles. (c) 2007 Optical Society of America.