As an example, in a typical pump-probe experimental apparatus, an attosecond (XUV-SXR) pulse and an intense ( W/cm) low-frequency infrared pulse with a time duration of few to tens femtoseconds are collinearly focused on the studied sample.
At this point, by varying the delay of the attosecond pulse, which could be pump/probe depending on the experiment, with respect to the IR pulse (probe/pump), the desired physical observable is recorded.
The subsequent challenge is to interpret the collected data and retrieve fundamental information on the hidden dynamics and quantum processes occurring in the sample. This can be achieved with advanced theoretical tools and numerical calculations.
By exploiting this experimental scheme, several kinds of dynamics can be explored in atoms, molecules and solids; typically light-induced dynamics and out-of-equilibrium excited states within attosecond time-resolution.