Signatures of attosecond electron tunneling dynamics in the evolution of intense few-cycle light pulses

The sensitivity of electron tunneling to the phase of an ionizing light field is shown to manifest itself in detectable features in the spectral and temporal evolution of intense few-cycle light pulses in an ionizing medium. An ultrafast buildup of electron density in the regime of tunneling ionization gives rise to a modulation of a few-cycle field wave form and enhances the short-wavelength part of its spectrum. In a low-pressure gas, the signatures of electron tunneling in the evolution of few-cycle pulses can be isolated from the effects related to atomic nonlinear susceptibilities, giving an access to attosecond electron tunneling dynamics.