Attosecond physics in photoemission from a metal nanotip

Nanometre-scale metal tips irradiated by femtosecond laser pulses represent ultrafast electron sources. The combination of the laser pulse and the tip offers the possibility of extending attosecond science from atomic or molecular gases to surfaces of solid nanoemitters. We first review this emerging research field focusing on electron rescattering at sharp metal tips. In particular, we investigate the carrier–envelope phase effects that reveal attosecond emission dynamics. Furthermore, we present detailed theory models that support this interpretation.