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Wetzel B, Kues M, Roztocki P, Reimer C, Godin PL, Rowley M, Little BE, Chu ST, Viktorov EA, Moss DJ, Pasquazi A, Peccianti M, Morandotti R. Customizing supercontinuum generation via on-chip adaptive temporal pulse-splitting. Nat Commun 2018; 9:4884. [PMID: 30459363 PMCID: PMC6244003 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-07141-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2018] [Accepted: 10/18/2018] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Modern optical systems increasingly rely on complex physical processes that require accessible control to meet target performance characteristics. In particular, advanced light sources, sought for, for example, imaging and metrology, are based on nonlinear optical dynamics whose output properties must often finely match application requirements. However, in these systems, the availability of control parameters (e.g., the optical field shape, as well as propagation medium properties) and the means to adjust them in a versatile manner are usually limited. Moreover, numerically finding the optimal parameter set for such complex dynamics is typically computationally intractable. Here, we use an actively controlled photonic chip to prepare and manipulate patterns of femtosecond optical pulses that give access to an enhanced parameter space in the framework of supercontinuum generation. Taking advantage of machine learning concepts, we exploit this tunable access and experimentally demonstrate the customization of nonlinear interactions for tailoring supercontinuum properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Wetzel
- Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université du Québec, Varennes, QC, J3X 1S2, Canada. .,School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, Department of Physics & Astronomy, University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton, BN1 9QH, UK.
| | - Michael Kues
- Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université du Québec, Varennes, QC, J3X 1S2, Canada.,School of Engineering, University of Glasgow, Rankine Building Oakfield Avenue, Glasgow, G12 8LT, UK
| | - Piotr Roztocki
- Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université du Québec, Varennes, QC, J3X 1S2, Canada
| | - Christian Reimer
- Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université du Québec, Varennes, QC, J3X 1S2, Canada.,John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, 02138, USA
| | - Pierre-Luc Godin
- Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université du Québec, Varennes, QC, J3X 1S2, Canada
| | - Maxwell Rowley
- School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, Department of Physics & Astronomy, University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton, BN1 9QH, UK
| | - Brent E Little
- State Key Laboratory of Transient Optics and Photonics, Xi'an Institute of Optics and Precision Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Science, Xinxi Ave, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Sai T Chu
- Department of Physics and Materials Science, City University of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
| | | | - David J Moss
- Centre for Micro-Photonics, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, VIC, 3122, Australia
| | - Alessia Pasquazi
- School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, Department of Physics & Astronomy, University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton, BN1 9QH, UK
| | - Marco Peccianti
- School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, Department of Physics & Astronomy, University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton, BN1 9QH, UK
| | - Roberto Morandotti
- Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université du Québec, Varennes, QC, J3X 1S2, Canada. .,ITMO University, 199034, St. Petersburg, Russia. .,Institute of Fundamental and Frontier Sciences, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 610054, Sichuan, China.
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Fillion-Gourdeau F, Hebenstreit F, Gagnon D, MacLean S. Pulse shape optimization for electron-positron production in rotating fields. Int J Clin Exp Med 2017. [DOI: 10.1103/physrevd.96.016012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
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Wei P, Miao J, Zeng Z, Li C, Ge X, Li R, Xu Z. Selective enhancement of a single harmonic emission in a driving laser field with subcycle waveform control. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2013; 110:233903. [PMID: 25167494 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.110.233903] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2013] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
We experimentally demonstrate a robust scheme to select a single high-order harmonic among the harmonic comb by using a driving laser field with subcycle waveform control, which is synthesized by the fundamental 800 nm laser pulse and two controlling laser pulses at 400 and 267 nm with perpendicular polarizations. By controlling the relative phase among the pulses of different colors, a single high-order harmonic is selectively enhanced while the adjacent harmonics are greatly suppressed with the intensity contrast increased by more than 1 order of magnitude and the peak intensity enhanced simultaneously by more than 2 orders of magnitude compared to the case by using only the fundamental 800 nm laser pulse. Such phenomena can be mainly attributed to the intra-atomic phase matching realized with the sub-cycle waveform controlled field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pengfei Wei
- State Key Laboratory of High Field Laser Physics, Shanghai Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201800, China and College of Physics and Electronic Information Engineering, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325035, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Jing Miao
- State Key Laboratory of High Field Laser Physics, Shanghai Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201800, China
| | - Zhinan Zeng
- State Key Laboratory of High Field Laser Physics, Shanghai Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201800, China
| | - Chuang Li
- State Key Laboratory of High Field Laser Physics, Shanghai Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201800, China
| | - Xiaochun Ge
- State Key Laboratory of High Field Laser Physics, Shanghai Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201800, China
| | - Ruxin Li
- State Key Laboratory of High Field Laser Physics, Shanghai Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201800, China and School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Zhizhan Xu
- State Key Laboratory of High Field Laser Physics, Shanghai Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201800, China and School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 200031, China
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Kupka D, Schlup P, Bartels RA. Simplified ultrafast pulse shaper for tailored polarization states using a birefringent prism. THE REVIEW OF SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS 2009; 80:053110. [PMID: 19485495 DOI: 10.1063/1.3130046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
A new polarization pulse shaping method utilizing a birefringent prism as both the spectrally dispersing and polarization separating element is presented and analyzed. The method of appropriate prism design is first examined, followed by calibration technique and experimental demonstration of the pulse shaper. Using phase-only modulation by means of a spatial light modulator, we obtain near-transform limited pulses. Furthermore, a sinusoidal spectral phase imparted on the pulse is retrieved and qualitatively compares well with the theoretical target field.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Kupka
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523, USA
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Kapteyn H, Cohen O, Christov I, Murnane M. Harnessing attosecond science in the quest for coherent X-rays. Science 2007; 317:775-8. [PMID: 17690287 DOI: 10.1126/science.1143679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 135] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Modern laser technology has revolutionized the sensitivity and precision of spectroscopy by providing coherent light in a spectrum spanning the infrared, visible, and ultraviolet wavelength regimes. However, the generation of shorter-wavelength coherent pulses in the x-ray region has proven much more challenging. The recent emergence of high harmonic generation techniques opens the door to this possibility. Here we review the new science that is enabled by an ability to manipulate and control electrons on attosecond time scales, ranging from new tabletop sources of coherent x-rays to an ability to follow complex electron dynamics in molecules and materials. We also explore the implications of these advances for the future of molecular structural characterization schemes that currently rely so heavily on scattering from incoherent x-ray sources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henry Kapteyn
- JILA and the National Science Foundation Center for Extreme Ultraviolet Science and Technology, University of Colorado at Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309-0440, USA
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Goulielmakis E, Yakovlev VS, Cavalieri AL, Uiberacker M, Pervak V, Apolonski A, Kienberger R, Kleineberg U, Krausz F. Attosecond Control and Measurement: Lightwave Electronics. Science 2007; 317:769-75. [PMID: 17690286 DOI: 10.1126/science.1142855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 308] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
Electrons emit light, carry electric current, and bind atoms together to form molecules. Insight into and control of their atomic-scale motion are the key to understanding the functioning of biological systems, developing efficient sources of x-ray light, and speeding up electronics. Capturing and steering this electron motion require attosecond resolution and control, respectively (1 attosecond = 10(-18) seconds). A recent revolution in technology has afforded these capabilities: Controlled light waves can steer electrons inside and around atoms, marking the birth of lightwave electronics. Isolated attosecond pulses, well reproduced and fully characterized, demonstrate the power of the new technology. Controlled few-cycle light waves and synchronized attosecond pulses constitute its key tools. We review the current state of lightwave electronics and highlight some future directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Goulielmakis
- Max-Planck-Institut für Quantenoptik, Hans-Kopfermann-Strasse 1, D-85748 Garching, Germany
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Lytle AL, Zhang X, Peatross J, Murnane MM, Kapteyn HC, Cohen O. Probe of high-order harmonic generation in a hollow waveguide geometry using counterpropagating light. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2007; 98:123904. [PMID: 17501126 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.98.123904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2006] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
We use counterpropagating light to directly observe the coherent buildup of high harmonic generation in a hollow waveguide geometry. We measure, for the first time, coherence lengths for high photon energies that cannot be phase matched using conventional approaches. We also probe the transition through phase matching, the ionization level at which different harmonic orders are generated, and the change in the coherence length as the driving laser is depleted. These results directly prescribe the optimal structures or pulse trains required for implementing quasiphase matching.
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Affiliation(s)
- A L Lytle
- JILA and Department of Physics University of Colorado at Boulder, Boulder, Colorado 80309, USA.
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Wagner NL, Wüest A, Christov IP, Popmintchev T, Zhou X, Murnane MM, Kapteyn HC. Monitoring molecular dynamics using coherent electrons from high harmonic generation. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2006; 103:13279-85. [PMID: 16895984 PMCID: PMC1533881 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0605178103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 159] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
We report a previously undescribed spectroscopic probe that makes use of electrons rescattered during the process of high-order harmonic generation. We excite coherent vibrations in SF(6) using impulsive stimulated Raman scattering with a short laser pulse. A second, more intense laser pulse generates high-order harmonics of the fundamental laser, at wavelengths of approximately 20-50 nm. The high-order harmonic yield is observed to oscillate, at frequencies corresponding to all of the Raman-active modes of SF(6), with an asymmetric mode most visible. The data also show evidence of relaxation dynamics after impulsive excitation of the molecule. Theoretical modeling indicates that the high harmonic yield should be modulated by both Raman and infrared-active vibrational modes. Our results indicate that high harmonic generation is a very sensitive probe of vibrational dynamics and may yield more information simultaneously than conventional ultrafast spectroscopic techniques. Because the de Broglie wavelength of the recolliding electron is on the order of interatomic distances, i.e., approximately 1.5 A, small changes in the shape of the molecule lead to large changes in the high harmonic yield. This work therefore demonstrates a previously undescribed spectroscopic technique for probing ultrafast internal dynamics in molecules and, in particular, on the chemically important ground-state potential surface.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas L. Wagner
- Department of Physics, JILA, and National Science Foundation Engineering Research Center in Extreme-Ultraviolet Science and Technology, University of Colorado and National Institute of Standards and Technology, Boulder, CO 80309-0440
| | - Andrea Wüest
- Department of Physics, JILA, and National Science Foundation Engineering Research Center in Extreme-Ultraviolet Science and Technology, University of Colorado and National Institute of Standards and Technology, Boulder, CO 80309-0440
| | - Ivan P. Christov
- Department of Physics, JILA, and National Science Foundation Engineering Research Center in Extreme-Ultraviolet Science and Technology, University of Colorado and National Institute of Standards and Technology, Boulder, CO 80309-0440
| | - Tenio Popmintchev
- Department of Physics, JILA, and National Science Foundation Engineering Research Center in Extreme-Ultraviolet Science and Technology, University of Colorado and National Institute of Standards and Technology, Boulder, CO 80309-0440
| | - Xibin Zhou
- Department of Physics, JILA, and National Science Foundation Engineering Research Center in Extreme-Ultraviolet Science and Technology, University of Colorado and National Institute of Standards and Technology, Boulder, CO 80309-0440
| | - Margaret M. Murnane
- Department of Physics, JILA, and National Science Foundation Engineering Research Center in Extreme-Ultraviolet Science and Technology, University of Colorado and National Institute of Standards and Technology, Boulder, CO 80309-0440
| | - Henry C. Kapteyn
- Department of Physics, JILA, and National Science Foundation Engineering Research Center in Extreme-Ultraviolet Science and Technology, University of Colorado and National Institute of Standards and Technology, Boulder, CO 80309-0440
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Pfeifer T, Kemmer R, Spitzenpfeil R, Walter D, Winterfeldt C, Gerber G, Spielmann C. Spatial control of high-harmonic generation in hollow fibers. OPTICS LETTERS 2005; 30:1497-9. [PMID: 16007786 DOI: 10.1364/ol.30.001497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
We demonstrate the control of high-harmonic generation in a hollow fiber by shaping the spatial structure of the generating laser pulse. We use a liquid-crystal-based two-dimensional spatial light modulator to control the spatial phase of the driver pulse. An evolutionary algorithm finds the spatial laser phase distribution that is optimal for reaching maximum total harmonic yield and for selectively enhancing the cutoff region of the spectrum. We show that enhacement of harmonic generation is related to coupling into a single fiber mode. Our results directly show that spatial properties of the laser are important parameters in fully controlling the high-harmonic spectrum. It is thus not possible to derive the controllability of the high-harmonic generation from the single-atom response only.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Pfeifer
- Physikalisches Institut, Universität Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074 Würzburg, Germany.
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Sansone G, Benedetti E, Caumes JP, Stagira S, Vozzi C, Pascolini M, Poletto L, Villoresi P, De Silvestri S, Nisoli M. Measurement of harmonic phase differences by interference of attosecond light pulses. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2005; 94:193903. [PMID: 16090174 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.94.193903] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2005] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
By using a self-referencing technique, we have experimentally measured the influence of the carrier-envelope phase of femtosecond light pulses on the phase of the electric field of the radiation produced by high-order harmonic generation. We show that, in particular experimental conditions, the temporal evolution of the electric field of the attosecond pulses, is directly controlled by the carrier-envelope phase of the driving pulses.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Sansone
- Dipartimento di Fisica, National Laboratory for Ultrafast and Ultraintense Optical Science-INFM, Politecnico, Milano, Italy
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12
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Adaptive engineering of coherent soft x-rays. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2005. [DOI: 10.1007/3-540-27213-5_55] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register]
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13
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Preda CE, Ségard B, Glorieux P. Genetic drive of a laser. OPTICS LETTERS 2004; 29:1885-1887. [PMID: 15357348 DOI: 10.1364/ol.29.001885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Direct production of laser output pulses with arbitrary shapes can be extended to the high-frequency domain by use of optimal driving of the pump power. Genetic algorithms allow us to design the optimal time evolutions of the pump power to counteract the detrimental effect of relaxation oscillations. The method is demonstrated on a Nd3+:YVO4 laser and allows us to produce, e.g., triangular pulses at rates 20 times faster than for proportional modulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Elena Preda
- Laboratoire de Physique des Lasers, Atomes et Molécules, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Unité Mixte de Recherche (UMR 8523), Université de Lille 1, 59655 Villeneuve d'Ascq, France
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Dantus M, Lozovoy VV. Experimental Coherent Laser Control of Physicochemical Processes. Chem Rev 2004; 104:1813-59. [PMID: 15080713 DOI: 10.1021/cr020668r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 144] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Marcos Dantus
- Department of Chemistry and Department of Physics and Astronomy, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, USA.
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Sansone G, Vozzi C, Stagira S, Pascolini M, Poletto L, Villoresi P, Tondello G, De Silvestri S, Nisoli M. Observation of carrier-envelope phase phenomena in the multi-optical-cycle regime. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2004; 92:113904. [PMID: 15089138 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.92.113904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2003] [Revised: 11/24/2003] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
So far the role of the carrier-envelope phase of a light pulse has been clearly experimentally evidenced only in the sub-6-fs temporal regime. Here we show, both experimentally and theoretically, the influence of the carrier-envelope phase of a multi-optical-cycle light pulse on high-order harmonic generation. For the first time, we demonstrate that the short and long electron quantum paths contributing to harmonic generation are influenced in a different way by the pulse carrier-envelope phase.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Sansone
- National Laboratory for Ultrafast and Ultraintense Optical Science--INFM, Dipartimento di Fisica, Politecnico, Milano, Italy
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Reitze DH, Kazamias S, Weihe F, Mullot G, Douillet D, Augé F, Albert O, Ramanathan V, Chambaret JP, Hulin D, Balcou P. Enhancement of high-order harmonic generation at tuned wavelengths through adaptive control. OPTICS LETTERS 2004; 29:86-88. [PMID: 14719669 DOI: 10.1364/ol.29.000086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
An adaptive learning loop enhances the efficiency and tuning of high-order harmonic generation. In comparison with simple chirp tuning, we observe a broader tuning range and a twofold to threefold enhancement in integrated photon flux in the cutoff region. The driving pulse temporal phase varies significantly for different tunings and is more complicated than a simple chirp. We compare our experimental results with a one-dimensional, time-dependent model that incorporates the intrinsic atomic response, the experimental pulse temporal phase, ionization effects, and transverse coherence of the spatial mode of the laser. The model agrees with our experimental results and indicates that a specific quantum path coupled with ionization effects determines the optimized harmonic spectrum.
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Affiliation(s)
- David H Reitze
- Laboratoire d'Optique Appliquée, Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Techniques Avancées, Ecole Polytechnique, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Unité Mixte de Recherche (UMR 7639), 91761 Palaiseau Cedex, France.
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Nisoli M, Sansone G, Stagira S, De Silvestri S, Vozzi C, Pascolini M, Poletto L, Villoresi P, Tondello G. Effects of carrier-envelope phase differences of few-optical-cycle light pulses in single-shot high-order-harmonic spectra. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2003; 91:213905. [PMID: 14683305 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.91.213905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2003] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
For the first time single-shot harmonic spectra generated by few-optical-cycle pulses have been measured. Clear carrier-envelope phase effects have been observed in the cutoff harmonic spectral structure. Results have been interpreted in terms of the nonadiabatic single-atom response of the nonlinear medium excited by few-optical-cycle pulses.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Nisoli
- Dipartimento di Fisica, Politecnico, Milano, Italy.
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18
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Tzallas P, Charalambidis D, Papadogiannis NA, Witte K, Tsakiris GD. Direct observation of attosecond light bunching. Nature 2003; 426:267-71. [PMID: 14628046 DOI: 10.1038/nature02091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 306] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2003] [Accepted: 09/29/2003] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Temporal probing of a number of fundamental dynamical processes requires intense pulses at femtosecond or even attosecond (1 as = 10(-18) s) timescales. A frequency 'comb' of extreme-ultraviolet odd harmonics can easily be generated in the interaction of subpicosecond laser pulses with rare gases: if the spectral components within this comb possess an appropriate phase relationship to one another, their Fourier synthesis results in an attosecond pulse train. Laser pulses spanning many optical cycles have been used for the production of such light bunching, but in the limit of few-cycle pulses the same process produces isolated attosecond bursts. If these bursts are intense enough to induce a nonlinear process in a target system, they can be used for subfemtosecond pump-probe studies of ultrafast processes. To date, all methods for the quantitative investigation of attosecond light localization and ultrafast dynamics rely on modelling of the cross-correlation process between the extreme-ultraviolet pulses and the fundamental laser field used in their generation. Here we report the direct determination of the temporal characteristics of pulses in the subfemtosecond regime, by measuring the second-order autocorrelation trace of a train of attosecond pulses. The method exhibits distinct capabilities for the characterization and utilization of attosecond pulses for a host of applications in attoscience.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Tzallas
- Max-Planck-Institut für Quantenoptik, D-85748 Garching, Germany
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19
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Gaarde MB, Schafer KJ. Space-time considerations in the phase locking of high harmonics. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2002; 89:213901. [PMID: 12443412 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.89.213901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2002] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
The combination of several high order harmonics can produce an attosecond pulse train, provided that the harmonics are locked in phase to each other. We present calculations that evaluate the degree of phase locking that is achieved in argon and neon gases interacting with an intense, 50 fs laser pulse, for a range of macroscopic conditions. We find that phase locking depends on both the temporal and the spatial phase behavior of the harmonics, as determined by the interplay between the intrinsic dipole phase and the phase matching in the nonlinear medium. We show that, as a consequence of this, it is not possible to compensate for a lack of phase locking by purely temporal phase manipulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mette B Gaarde
- Department of Physics, Lund Institute of Technology, P.O. Box 118, S-22100 Lund, Sweden
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20
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Norin J, Mauritsson J, Johansson A, Raarup MK, Buil S, Persson A, Dühr O, Gaarde MB, Schafer KJ, Keller U, Wahlström CG, L'Huillier A. Time-frequency characterization of femtosecond extreme ultraviolet pulses. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2002; 88:193901. [PMID: 12005632 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.88.193901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2001] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
We present energy-resolved cross-correlation measurements of an extreme ultraviolet (XUV) pulse, generated as the fifth harmonic (15.5 eV) of an intense 80 fs laser pulse centered at 400 nm. Spectrally resolving the cross-correlation signal allows us to characterize the time-dependent frequency of the XUV pulse. We find that the fifth harmonic has a small negative chirp in excess of that predicted by perturbation theory. In addition, by manipulating the chirp of the driving laser we can induce and measure a positive or a negative chirp on the XUV pulse.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Norin
- Department of Physics, Lund Institute of Technology, P.O. Box 118, S-221 00 Lund, Sweden
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21
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Bartels RA, Weinacht TC, Wagner N, Baertschy M, Greene CH, Murnane MM, Kapteyn HC. Phase modulation of ultrashort light pulses using molecular rotational wave packets. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2002; 88:013903. [PMID: 11800946 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.88.013903] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2001] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
We demonstrate experimentally how the time-dependent phase modulation induced by molecular rotational wave packets can manipulate the phase and spectral content of ultrashort light pulses. Using impulsively excited rotational wave packets in CO2, we increase the bandwidth of a probe pulse by a factor of 9, while inducing a negative chirp. This chirp is removed by propagation through a fused silica window, without the use of a pulse compressor. This is a very general technique for optical phase modulation that can be applied over a broad spectral region from the IR to the UV.
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Affiliation(s)
- R A Bartels
- JILA and the Department of Physics, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309-0440, USA.
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