En route to the generation and attosecond control of intense single-cycle light pulses

Characterization of intense light pulses approaching the single-cycle regime is currently hindered by the limited resolution of available metrological techniques. However if attosecond sampling of the electric field (1) of such pulses is employed, access into the fine features of their waveform opens up new possibilities for precise temporal shaping and control. We demonstrate that due to this capability, we can tune ultrashort pulses with sub-cycle resolution and can temporally compress them down to 1.2 light field oscillations. Such pulses carry more 70% of their several hundreds of microjoule energy within only one field oscillation. We will discuss the impact of these tools in steering and controlling of electrons at light frequencies, giving rise to lightwave electronics (2), as well as, their novel applications for the generation of ultrashort intense bursts of light in the deep and the vacuum ultraviolet (3).