Strong-field photoemission in nanotip near-fields: from quiver to sub-cycle electron dynamics

Metallic nanotips exhibit large electric field enhancements over an extremely broad bandwidth spanning from the optical domain down to static fields. They therefore constitute ideal model systems for the investigation of the inherent frequency scalings of highly nonlinear and strong-field phenomena. Here, we present a comprehensive study of strong-field photoemission from individual metallic nanotips. Combining high local fields and variable-wavelength mid-infrared pulses, we investigate electron dynamics governed by the nanoscale confinement of the optical near-field. In particular, we characterize a transition to sub-cycle, field-driven electron acceleration. The experimental findings are corroborated by semiclassical calculations within a two-step model.