Scaling of wave-packet dynamics in an intense midinfrared field

Ultrafast spectroscopy of liquids using extreme-ultraviolet to soft-X-ray pulses

Ultrafast X-ray spectroscopy provides access to molecular dynamics with unprecedented time resolution, element specificity and site selectivity. These unique properties are optimally suited for investigating intramolecular and intermolecular interactions of molecular species in the liquid phase. This Review summarizes experimental breakthroughs, such as water photolysis and proton transfer on femtosecond and attosecond time scales, dynamics of solvated electrons, charge-transfer processes in metal complexes, multiscale dynamics in haem proteins, proton-transfer dynamics in prebiotic systems and liquid-phase extreme-ultraviolet high-harmonic spectroscopy. An important novelty for ultrafast liquid-phase spectroscopy is the availability of high-brightness ultrafast short-wavelength sources that allowed access to the water window (from 200 eV to 550 eV) and thus to the K-edges of the key elements of organic and biological chemistry: C, N and O. Not only does this Review present experimental examples that demonstrate the unique capabilities of ultrafast short-wavelength spectroscopy in liquids, but it also highlights the broad range of spectroscopic methodologies already applied in this field.

Ionization and recombination times of high-order harmonic generation with single-photon ionization

We theoretically study high-order harmonic generation (HHG) involving an extreme ultraviolet (XUV) pulse and an intense infrared driving field, where the electron is ionized by absorbing a single XUV photon. Using a developed classical-trajectory model that includes Coulomb effects and the improved initial conditions, it is demonstrated that the resulting harmonic emission times match well with those obtained by applying the Gabor transform to data from numerical solutions of time-dependent Schrödinger equations for helium and hydrogen atoms. This confirms a classical HHG scheme under single-photon ionization: The electron, ionized by absorbing one XUV photon, oscillates in the infrared field and may recollide with the parent ion, emitting high-frequency radiation. Therefore, the classical model can determine the ionization and recombination times of the electron in single-photon-ionization HHG. Our work shows great promise for resolving electron dynamics using high-order harmonic spectroscopy under single-photon ionization.

Ultrafast energy-dispersive soft-x-ray diffraction in the water window with a laser-driven source

Time-resolved soft-x-ray-diffraction experiments give access to microscopic processes in a broad range of solid-state materials by probing ultrafast dynamics of ordering phenomena. While laboratory-based high-harmonic generation (HHG) light sources provide the required photon energies, their limited photon flux is distributed over a wide spectral range, rendering typical monochromatic diffraction schemes challenging. Here, we present a scheme for energy-dispersive soft-x-ray diffraction with femtosecond temporal resolution and photon energies across the water window from 200 to 600 eV. The experiment utilizes the broadband nature of the HHG emission to efficiently probe large slices in reciprocal space. As a proof-of-concept, we study the laser-induced structural dynamics of a Mo/Si superlattice in an ultrafast, non-resonant soft-x-ray diffraction experiment. We extract the underlying strain dynamics from the measured shift of its first order superlattice Bragg peak in reciprocal space at photon energies around 500 eV via soft-x-ray scattering simulations.

Laser-induced electron diffraction: Imaging of a single gas-phase molecular structure with one of its own electrons

Among the many methods to image molecular structure, laser-induced electron diffraction (LIED) can image a single gas-phase molecule by locating all of a molecule's atoms in space and time. The method is based on attosecond electron recollision driven by a laser field and can reach attosecond temporal resolution. Implementation with a mid-IR laser and cold-target recoil ion-momentum spectroscopy, single molecules are measured with picometer resolution due to the keV electron impact energy without ensemble averaging or the need for molecular orientation. Nowadays, the method has evolved to detect single complex and chiral molecular structures in 3D. The review will touch on the various methods to discuss the implementations of LIED toward single-molecule imaging and complement the discussions with noteworthy experimental findings in the field.

Ho:YLF regenerative amplifier delivering 22 mJ, 2.0 ps pulses at a 1 kHz repetition rate

We report on a high-energy, few-ps, continuous-wave pumped Ho:YLF regenerative amplifier (RA) operating in a chirped-pulse amplification arrangement. A three-stage optical parametric amplifier serves as versatile seed source emitting broadband pulses centered at 2050 nm. It provides seed pulses with 4 µJ energy within the Ho:YLF amplification bandwidth centered at 2051 nm. Thanks to the high seed pulse energy, bifurcation instabilities are mitigated and gain narrowing is reduced for such a high-gain Ho-doped RA operating at few kHz repetition rate. At 1 kHz the Ho:YLF RA emits 22.5 mJ energy pulses with a compressed pulse duration of 2.0 ps in the stable single-pulse regime. The water cooled RA features a high extraction efficiency of 31% and exhibits a remarkable stability of 0.11% rms. Doubling the repetition rate to 2 kHz, RA pulse energy reaches 15 mJ. The demonstrated 10 GW peak power at 1 kHz and the 30 W average power at 2 kHz are the highest values reported to date for few-ps RAs operating at 2 µm wavelength.

Numerical experiment of phase-matched ion-based high-order harmonic generation in the water-window x-ray spectral region via electromagnetic envelope equation

We present a phase-matching scheme for efficient high-order harmonic generation in the water-window x-ray spectral region using a 405-nm driving pulse. A high-intensity pulse (∼1016 W/cm2) is used to produce He1+ ions as the target medium, increasing the cutoff photon energy to the water-window x-ray spectral region. By adjusting the driving pulse divergence, the positive dipole phase variation balances the negative plasma dispersion and geometrical phase shift, achieving phase matching. Using the electromagnetic envelope equation coupled with the Keldysh ionization model, numerical experiments identify the optimal conditions. Results show that the relative conversion efficiencies of the 95th harmonic (4.26 nm) and the 169th harmonic (2.4 nm) reach 66% and 79% of the perfect phase-matching conditions, respectively.

Focal cone high harmonic generation driven by a 400 TW laser

The generation of self-focusing beams of extreme ultraviolet (XUV) radiation using the focal cone high harmonic generation (FCHHG) technique is examined for high energy lasers. The FCHHG geometry is created by passing a focusing laser beam through a gas sheet prior to reaching focus and thus creating a converging beam of high harmonic radiation. This leads to a larger interaction area that increases the total area of XUV emission while not exceeding the saturation intensity of the target atoms or increasing the density of the atoms. Such a method allows for scaling of HHG to any incident laser power. An experiment was conducted demonstrating such scaling to incident 400 TW pulses, showing both the expected spectral signature of HHG and the converging cone of XUV radiation. It was found that this technique is very sensitive to spatial non-uniformity in the driving laser, which has become more prevalent in high energy laser systems.

49 W carrier-envelope-phase-stable few-cycle 2.1 µm OPCPA at 10 kHz

We demonstrate a mid-infrared optical parametric chirped pulse amplifier (OPCPA), delivering 2.1 µm center wavelength pulses with 20 fs duration and 4.9 mJ energy at 10 kHz repetition rate. This self-seeded system is based on a kW-class Yb:YAG thin-disk amplifier driving a CEP stable short-wavelength-infrared (SWIR) generation and three consecutive OPCPA stages. Our SWIR source achieves an average power of 49 W, while still maintaining excellent phase and average power stability with sub-100 mrad carrier-envelope-phase-noise and 0.8% average power fluctuations. These parameters enable the OPCPA setup to drive attosecond pump probe spectroscopy experiments with photon energies in the water window.

Signal-to-idler energy conversion from 1.9 to 2.3 µm by transient stimulated Raman chirped-pulse amplification

The combination of optical parametric and transient stimulated Raman amplification of chirped pulses demonstrates a new approach for idler energy buildup in the short-wave (SW)IR range. Optical parametric chirped-pulse amplification (OPCPA) output pulses in the wavelength range from ∼1800 nm to ∼2000 nm for the signal and from ∼2100 nm to ∼2400 nm for the idler were used as pump and Stokes seed, respectively, in a stimulated Raman amplifier based on a KGd(WO₄)₂ crystal. Both OPCPA and its supercontinuum seed were pumped with ∼1.2-ps transform-limited pulses from a Yb:YAG chirped-pulse amplifier. The transient stimulated Raman chirped-pulse amplifier provides a 33% increase in idler energy with nearly transform-limited ∼53-fs pulses after compression.

Efficient low-density grating setup for monochromatization of XUV ultrafast light sources

Ultrafast light sources have become an indispensable tool to access and understand transient phenomenon in material science. However, a simple and easy-to-implement method for harmonic selection, with high transmission efficiency and pulse duration conservation, is still a challenge. Here we showcase and compare two approaches for selecting the desired harmonic from a high harmonic generation source while achieving the above goals. The first approach is the combination of extreme ultraviolet spherical mirrors with transmission filters and the second approach uses a normal-incidence spherical grating. Both solutions target time- and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy with photon energies in the 10-20 eV range but are relevant for other experimental techniques as well. The two approaches for harmonic selection are characterized in terms of focusing quality, photon flux, and temporal broadening. It is demonstrated that a focusing grating is able to provide much higher transmission as compared to the mirror+filter approach (3.3 times higher for 10.8 eV and 12.9 times higher for 18.1 eV), with only a slight temporal broadening (6.8% increase) and a somewhat larger spot size (∼30% increase). Overall, our study establishes an experimental perspective on the trade-off between a single grating normal incidence monochromator design and the use of filters. As such, it provides a basis for selecting the most appropriate approach in various fields where an easy-to-implement harmonic selection from high harmonic generation is needed.

HHG at the Carbon K-Edge Directly Driven by SRS Red-Shifted Pulses from an Ytterbium Amplifier

In this work, we introduce a simplified approach to efficiently extend the high harmonic generation (HHG) cutoff in gases without the need for laser frequency conversion via parametric processes. Instead, we employ postcompression and red-shifting of a Yb:CaF2 laser via stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) in a nitrogen-filled stretched hollow core fiber. This driving scheme circumvents the low-efficiency window of parametric amplifiers in the 1100-1300 nm range. We demonstrate this approach being suitable for upscaling the power of a driver with an optimal wavelength for HHG in the highly desirable XUV range between 200 and 300 eV, up to the carbon K-edge. Due to the combination of power scalability of a low quantum defect ytterbium-based laser system with the high conversion efficiency of the SRS technique, we expect a significant increase in the generated photon flux in comparison with established platforms for HHG in the water window. We also compare HHG driven by the SRS scheme with the conventional self-phase modulation (SPM) scheme.

Few-cycle short-wave-infrared light source for strong-field experiments at 200 kHz repetition rate

We present a compact, few-cycle, short-wave infrared light source delivering 13 µJ, carrier-envelope phase (CEP) stable pulses around 2 µm, operating at 200 kHz repetition rate. Starting from an ytterbium fiber amplifier, the seed is produced via white-light generation followed by difference frequency generation, and later amplified in two BiBO nonlinear crystals. A pulse duration of 15.8 fs is measured with the dispersion scan technique, while the CEP stability is assessed via a monolithic spectral interferometry scheme. We demonstrate the potential of the system to drive strong-field experiments by performing high-order harmonic generation in argon gas.

100-mJ class, sub-two-cycle, carrier-envelope phase-stable dual-chirped optical parametric amplification

Based on dual-chirped optical parametric amplification (DC-OPA) and type-I BiB₃O₆ (BiBO) crystals, the generation of >100 mJ, 10.4 fs, 10 Hz, carrier-envelope phase (CEP)-stable laser pulses, which are centered at 1.7 µm, was demonstrated producing a peak power of 10 TW. CEP-dependent high harmonic generation (HHG) was implemented to confirm the sub-two-cycle pulse duration and CEP stabilization of infrared (IR) laser pulses. As far as we know, the obtained pulse energy and peak power represented the highest values for sub-two-cycle CEP-stable IR optical parametric amplification. Additionally, the prospects of achieving high-energy water window isolated attosecond pulses (IAPs) via our developed laser source were discussed.

Non-classical high harmonic generation in graphene driven by linearly-polarized laser pulses

Recent studies in high-order harmonic generation (HHG) in solid targets reveal new scenarios of extraordinary rich electronic dynamics, in comparison to the atomic and molecular cases. For the later, the main aspects of the process can be described semiclassically in terms of electrons that recombine when the trajectories revisit the parent ion. HHG in solids has been described by an analogous mechanism, in this case involving electron-hole pair recombinations. However, it has been recently reported that a substantial part of the HHG emission corresponds to situations where the electron and hole trajectories do not overlap in space. According to the present knowledge, HHG from this imperfect recollisions reflects the quantum nature of the process, arising in systems with large Berry curvatures or for elliptically polarized driving fields. In this work, we demonstrate that imperfect recollisions are also relevant in the more general case. We show the signature of such recollisions in the HHG spectrum from monolayer graphene -a system with null Berry curvature- irradiated by linearly polarized driving fields. Our calculations also reveal that imperfect multiple-order recollisions contribute to the harmonic emission when electron-hole excursion times exceed one cycle of the driving field. We believe that our work adds a substantial contribution to the full understanding of the sub-femtosecond dynamics of HHG in solid systems.

Effect of multiple rescatterings on continuum harmonics from asymmetric molecules in multicycle lasers

A wide range of harmonics especially continuum harmonics is a prerequisite for attosecond pulse generation. One can use longer-wavelength lasers to push the cutoff to a higher order. However, this does not translate to the same amount of continuum range extension because multiple rescattering phenomena are also enhanced in the process, potentially affecting the lower end of the continuum harmonics. It is then important to understand exactly how multiple rescatterings affect the harmonic structure and their response to various laser parameters, which is the main theme of this paper. Particularly, by applying the synchrosqueezed time-frequency transform and classical electron trajectory analysis to the asymmetric molecule carbon monoxide (CO), we justify that the multiple rescatterings indeed influence the periodicity of the harmonic spectra and the stable periodicity is, in fact, bounded by the first- and third-order returns. Moreover, for the first time, we find that the high-order rescatterings are asymmetric regarding the molecular rotation of 180°, but always correlate with the first-order returns. Our last result is that by breaking the laser symmetry in an appropriate way, the contribution of multiple rescatterings is removed so that the continuum region is entirely defined by the first-order return energies.

A narrow bandwidth extreme ultra-violet light source for time- and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy

Here, we present a high repetition rate, narrow bandwidth, extreme ultraviolet photon source for time- and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy. The narrow bandwidth pulses Δ E = 9 ,   14 ,   and   18  meV for photon energies h ν = 10.8 ,   18.1 ,   and   25.3  eV are generated through high harmonic generation using ultra-violet drive pulses with relatively long pulse lengths (461 fs). The high harmonic generation setup employs an annular drive beam in tight focusing geometry at a repetition rate of 250 kHz. Photon energy selection is provided by a series of selectable multilayer bandpass mirrors and thin film filters, thus avoiding any time broadening introduced by single grating monochromators. A two stage optical-parametric amplifier provides < 100 fs tunable pump pulses from 0.65 μm to 9 μm. The narrow bandwidth performance of the light source is demonstrated through angle-resolved photoemission measurements on a series of quantum materials, including high-temperature superconductor Bi-2212, WSe2, and graphene.

Ion-based high-order harmonic generation from water window to keV region with a transverse disruptive pulse for quasi-phase-matching

A scheme for ion-based high-harmonic generation from water window to keV x-ray is investigated. He¹⁺ ions with 54.42-eV ionization potential extend the harmonic cutoff energy to 1 keV. The transverse selective-zoning method of quasi-phase-matching is utilized to overcome the severe plasma dispersion in a highly ionized medium. The calculated conversion efficiency reaches about 15% of the perfect phase-matching condition. Wavelength tunability is achieved by incorporating a programmable spatial-light modulator to control the quasi-phase-matching pattern.

Water-window high harmonic generation with 0.8-µm and 2.2-µm OPCPAs at 100 kHz

We compare the generation of high-order harmonics in the water window (283-543 eV) with 0.8-µm and 2.2-µm few-cycle lasers at a pulse repetition rate of 100 kHz. Using conventional phase matching with the 2.2-µm driver and what we attribute to nonadiabatic self-phase-matching with the 0.8-µm driver, photons up to 0.6 keV (2 nm) are generated in both cases. Special attention is paid to the understanding of the generation mechanism with the 0.8-µm laser amplifier system. We use the same beamline and pump laser for both drivers, which allows for a direct flux comparison at the two driving wavelengths. For photon energies around 280 eV, a 10-100 times higher flux is obtained from the 2.2-µm versus the 0.8-µm laser system in helium and neon. The crossover at which the 2.2-µm yields a higher flux compared to the 0.8-µm driver is found to be as high as 0.2 keV. Our study supports the common approach of using long-wavelength lasers in a phase-matched regime for efficient generation of water-window harmonics, but also shows that the more widespread 0.8-µm wavelength can be used to generate water-window harmonics with an efficiency close to the one of a less common 2.2-µm source.

Apparatus for generation of nanojoule-class water-window high-order harmonics

In our recent study [Fu et al., Commun. Phys. 3(1), 92 (2020)], we have developed an approach for energy-scaling of high-order harmonic generation in the water-window region under a neutral-medium condition. More specifically, we obtained a nanojoule-class water-window soft x-ray harmonic beam under a phase-matching condition. It has been achieved by combining a newly developed terawatt-class mid-infrared femtosecond laser and a loose-focusing geometry for high-order harmonic generation. The generated beam is more than 100 times intense compared to previously reported results. The experimental setup included two key parts: a terawatt mid-infrared femtosecond driving laser [Fu et al., Sci. Rep. 8(1), 7692 (2018)] and a specially designed gas cell. Despite the dramatic drop in the optimal gas pressure for phase-matching due to loose-focusing geometry, it still reached the 1 bar level for helium. Thus, we have designed a double-structured pulsed-gas cell with a differential pumping system, which enabled providing sufficiently high gas pressure. Moreover, it allowed reducing gas consumption significantly. A robust energy-scalable apparatus for high-order harmonic generation developed in this study will enable the generation of over ten-nanojoule water-window attosecond pulses in the near future.

Laser-induced inner-shell excitations through direct electron re-collision versus indirect collision

The dynamics and the decay processes of inner-shell excited atoms are of great interest in physics, chemistry, biology, and technology. The highly excited state decays very quickly through different channels, both radiative and non-radiative. It is therefore a long-standing goal to study such dynamics directly in the time domain. Using few-cycle infrared laser pulses, we investigated the excitation and ionization of inner-shell electrons through laser-induced electron re-collision with the original parent ions and measured the dependence of the emitted x-ray spectra on the intensity and ellipticity of the driving laser. These directly re-colliding electrons can be used as the initiating pump step in pump/probe experiments for studying core-hole dynamics at their natural temporal scale. In our experiment we found that the dependence of the x-ray emission spectrum on the laser intensity and polarization state varies distinctly for the two kinds of atomic systems. Relying on our data and numerical simulations, we explain this behavior by the presence of different excitation mechanisms that are contributing in different ratios to the respective overall x-ray emission yields. Direct re-collision excitation competes with indirect collisions with neighboring atoms by electrons having "drifted away" from the original parent ion.

Generation of isolated circularly polarized attosecond pulses by three-color laser field mixing

We propose and theoretically demonstrate a method to generate the circularly polarized supercontinuum with three-color electric fields. The three-color field is synthesized from an orthogonally polarized two-color (OTC) laser field and an infrared gating field. All driving pulse durations are extended to 40 fs. We demonstrate that the three-color field imposes curved trajectories for ionized electrons and extends the time interval between each harmonic emitting. Through adjusting intensity ratios among three components of the driving field, a nearly circular isolated attosecond pulse can be generated.

Mapping initial transverse momenta of tunnel-ionized electrons to rescattering double ionization in nondipole regimes

We investigate the double ionization of a model Neon atom in strong middle infrared laser pulses by simulating the classical trajectories of the electron ensemble. After one electron tunnels out from the laser-dressed Coulomb barrier, it might undergo different returning trajectories depending on its initial transverse momentum, which in this wavelength may propagate along or deviate from the polarization direction. This initial transverse momentum determines the rescattering time, and thus some trajectories can have returning time longer than one optical cycle. These late-returning trajectories determine the correlated electron-electron momentum distribution for double ionization and allow us to disentangle each double ionization event from the final momentum distribution. The description of these trajectories allow us also to understand how the nondipole effects modify the correlated electron-electron momentum distribution in double ionization.

Universal High-Energy Photoelectron Emission from Nanoclusters Beyond the Atomic Limit

Rescattering by electrons on classical trajectories is central to understand photoelectron and high-harmonic emission from isolated atoms or molecules in intense laser pulses. By controlling the cluster size and the quiver amplitude of electrons, we demonstrate how rescattering influences the energy distribution of photoelectrons emitted from noble gas nanoclusters. Our experiments reveal a universal dependence of photoelectron energy distributions on the cluster size when scaled by the field driven electron excursion, establishing a unified rescattering picture for extended systems with the known atomic dynamics as the limit of zero extension. The result is supported by molecular dynamics calculations and rationalized with a one-dimensional classical model.

Generation of two successive attosecond pulses in separate spectral domains

We demonstrate that two different single attosecond pulses (SAP) can be obtained from naturally separated spectral domains formed during high-order harmonic generation and propagation in a gas medium. We propose a feasible experimental configuration in which one can obtain an SAP in a lower energy domain (<300 eV), or another SAP in a higher energy domain (>300 eV). Without filtering, a double attosecond pulse emission with fixed temporal separation is obtained. The gap between the two spectral domains is close to the onset of the water window.

Efficient table-top dual-wavelength beamline for ultrafast transient absorption spectroscopy in the soft X-ray region

We present a table-top beamline providing a soft X-ray supercontinuum extending up to 370 eV from high-order harmonic generation with sub-13 fs 1300 nm driving pulses and simultaneous production of sub-5 fs pulses centered at 800 nm. Optimization of high harmonic generation in a long and dense gas medium yields a photon flux of  ~ 1.4 × 106 photons/s/1% bandwidth at 300 eV. The temporal resolution of X-ray transient absorption experiments with this beamline is measured to be 11 fs for 800 nm excitation. This dual-wavelength approach, combined with high flux and high spectral and temporal resolution soft X-ray absorption spectroscopy, is a new route to the study of ultrafast electronic dynamics in carbon-containing molecules and materials at the carbon K-edge.

Carrier-envelope-phase measurement of few-cycle mid-infrared laser pulses using high harmonic generation in ZnO

High-harmonic generation (HHG) in crystals offers a simple, affordable and easily accessible route to carrier-envelope phase (CEP) measurements, which scales favorably towards longer wavelengths. We present measurements of HHG in ZnO using few-cycle pulses at 3.1µm. Thanks to the broad bandwidth of the driving laser pulses, spectral overlap between adjacent harmonic orders is achieved. The resulting spectral interference pattern provides access to the relative harmonic phase, and hence, the CEP.

Symphony on strong field approximation

This paper has been prepared by the Symphony collaboration (University of Warsaw, Uniwersytet Jagielloński, DESY/CNR and ICFO) on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the 'simple man's models' which underlie most of the phenomena that occur when intense ultrashort laser pulses interact with matter. The phenomena in question include high-harmonic generation (HHG), above-threshold ionization (ATI), and non-sequential multielectron ionization (NSMI). 'Simple man's models' provide both an intuitive basis for understanding the numerical solutions of the time-dependent Schrödinger equation and the motivation for the powerful analytic approximations generally known as the strong field approximation (SFA). In this paper we first review the SFA in the form developed by us in the last 25 years. In this approach the SFA is a method to solve the TDSE, in which the non-perturbative interactions are described by including continuum-continuum interactions in a systematic perturbation-like theory. In this review we focus on recent applications of the SFA to HHG, ATI and NSMI from multi-electron atoms and from multi-atom molecules. The main novel part of the presented theory concerns generalizations of the SFA to: (i) time-dependent treatment of two-electron atoms, allowing for studies of an interplay between electron impact ionization and resonant excitation with subsequent ionization; (ii) time-dependent treatment in the single active electron approximation of 'large' molecules and targets which are themselves undergoing dynamics during the HHG or ATI processes. In particular, we formulate the general expressions for the case of arbitrary molecules, combining input from quantum chemistry and quantum dynamics. We formulate also theory of time-dependent separable molecular potentials to model analytically the dynamics of realistic electronic wave packets for molecules in strong laser fields. We dedicate this work to the memory of Bertrand Carré, who passed away in March 2018 at the age of 60.

Table-top high-energy 7 μm OPCPA and 260 mJ Ho:YLF pump laser

We present a state-of-the-art compact high-energy mid-infrared (mid-IR) laser system for TW-level eight-cycle pulses at 7 μm. This system consists of an Er:Tm:Ho:fiber MOPA which serves as the seeder for a ZGP-based optical parametric chirped pulse amplification (OPCPA) chain, in addition to a Ho:YLF amplifier which is Tm:fiber pumped. Featuring all-optical synchronization, the system delivers 260 mJ pump energy at 2052 nm and 16 ps duration at 100 Hz with a stability of 0.8% rms over 20 min. We show that chirp inversion in the OPCPA chain leads to excellent energy extraction and aids in compression of the 7 μm pulses to eight optical cycles (188 fs) in bulk BaF₂ with 93.5% efficiency. Using 21.7 mJ of the available pump energy, we generate 0.75 mJ energy pulses at 7 μm due to increased efficiency with a chirp inversion scheme. The pulse quality of the system's output is shown by generating high harmonics in ZnSe which span up to harmonic order 13 with excellent contrast. The combination of the passive carrier-envelope phase stable mid-IR seed pulses and the high-energy 2052 nm picosecond pulses makes this compact system a key enabling tool for the next generation of studies on extreme photonics, strong field physics, and table-top coherent X-ray science.

Carrier-to-envelope phase-stable, mid-infrared, ultrashort pulses from a hybrid parametric generator: Cr:ZnSe laser amplifier system

Our Cr:ZnSe laser amplifier, seeded by parametric difference mixing, produces 72fs long pulses at the central wavelength of ~2.37µm. The stability of the carrier-to-envelope phase of the amplified seed pulses, attained at the stage of their parametric generation, is preserved through 6 orders of magnitude of laser amplification.

Recent advances in ultrafast X-ray sources

Over more than a century, X-rays have transformed our understanding of the fundamental structure of matter and have been an indispensable tool for chemistry, physics, biology, materials science and related fields. Recent advances in ultrafast X-ray sources operating in the femtosecond to attosecond regimes have opened an important new frontier in X-ray science. These advances now enable: (i) sensitive probing of structural dynamics in matter on the fundamental timescales of atomic motion, (ii) element-specific probing of electronic structure and charge dynamics on fundamental timescales of electronic motion, and (iii) powerful new approaches for unravelling the coupling between electronic and atomic structural dynamics that underpin the properties and function of matter. Most notable is the recent realization of X-ray free-electron lasers (XFELs) with numerous new XFEL facilities in operation or under development worldwide. Advances in XFELs are complemented by advances in synchrotron-based and table-top laser-plasma X-ray sources now operating in the femtosecond regime, and laser-based high-order harmonic XUV sources operating in the attosecond regime. This article is part of the theme issue 'Measurement of ultrafast electronic and structural dynamics with X-rays'.

Attosecond soft X-ray high harmonic generation

High harmonic generation (HHG) of an intense laser pulse is a highly nonlinear optical phenomenon that provides the only proven source of tabletop attosecond pulses, and it is the key technology in attosecond science. Recent developments in high-intensity infrared lasers have extended HHG beyond its traditional domain of the XUV spectral range (10-150 eV) into the soft X-ray regime (150 eV to 3 keV), allowing the compactness, stability and sub-femtosecond duration of HHG to be combined with the atomic site specificity and electronic/structural sensitivity of X-ray spectroscopy. HHG in the soft X-ray spectral region has significant differences from HHG in the XUV, which necessitate new approaches to generating and characterizing attosecond pulses. Here, we examine the challenges and opportunities of soft X-ray HHG, and we use simulations to examine the optimal generating conditions for the development of high-flux, attosecond-duration pulses in the soft X-ray spectral range. This article is part of the theme issue 'Measurement of ultrafast electronic and structural dynamics with X-rays'.

An intense, few-cycle source in the long-wave infrared

For the last several decades, the wavelength range accessible for strong-field, few-cycle studies has remained limited to the visible, near infrared and mid-wave infrared regimes. In particular, sources in the long-wave infrared have been lacking. We report the development of a 1 kHz, few-cycle laser source with up to a 9 μm central wavelength and gigawatt peak powers. When focused, this source can ionize gas targets, which we demonstrate here through the ionization of atomic xenon at wavelengths ranging from 5 μm to 9 μm. This opens up new opportunities for fundamental atomic and molecular physics, enabling experimental tests of strong-field ionization theories in the extreme long-wavelength, few-cycle limit and the direct excitation of vibrational transitions in organic molecules.

Soft X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy of Aqueous Solutions Using a Table-Top Femtosecond Soft X-ray Source

We demonstrate the feasibility of soft X-ray absorption spectroscopy in the water window using a table-top laser-based approach with organic molecules and inorganic salts in aqueous solution. A high-order harmonic source delivers femtosecond pulses of short wavelength radiation in the photon energy range from 220 to 450 eV. We report static soft X-ray absorption measurements in transmission on the solvated compounds O=C(NH₂)₂, CaCl₂, and NaNO₃ using flatjet technology. We monitor the absorption of the molecular samples between the carbon (∼280 eV) and nitrogen (∼400 eV) K-edges and compare our results with previous measurements performed at the BESSYII facility. We discuss the roles of pulse stability and photon flux in the outcome of our experiments. Our work paves the way toward table-top femtosecond, solution-phase soft X-ray absorption spectroscopy in the water window.

Artificial Neural Network Trained to Predict High-Harmonic Flux

In this work we present the results obtained with an artificial neural network (ANN) which we trained to predict the expected output of high-order harmonic generation (HHG) process, while exploring a multi-dimensional parameter space. We argue on the utility and efficiency of the ANN model and demonstrate its ability to predict the outcome of HHG simulations. In this case study we present the results for a loose focusing HHG beamline, where the changing parameters are: the laser pulse energy, gas pressure, gas cell position relative to focus and medium length. The physical quantity which we predict here using ANN is directly related to the total harmonic yield in a specified spectral domain (20–40 eV). We discuss the versatility and adaptability of the presented method.

Extension of water-window harmonic cutoff by laser defocusing-assisted phase matching

We extend a recently demonstrated scheme [Optica4, 976 (2017)OPTIC82334-253610.1364/OPTICA.4.000976] to overcome the limit of conventional harmonic cutoff for different pulse durations, laser wavelengths, and gas targets. By tuning the truncation of long wavelength lasers, we show that the defocusing-assisted phase matching (DAPM) can be achieved in a tightly focused beam and highly ionized short gas cell, and can be used to effectively extend the harmonic cutoff energy and optimize its yield. An analysis of phase matching reveals that at longer wavelengths, greater cutoff extension to the water window region is achieved because of the larger harmonic intrinsic phase (proportional to the cube of laser wavelength), and because DAPM works at relatively higher laser intensities using a Ne target. This scheme provides a promising method for efficiently generating intense attosecond light sources in the extreme ultraviolet to x-rays.

Apparatus for soft x-ray table-top high harmonic generation

There has been considerable recent interest in tabletop soft X-ray attosecond sources enabled by the new generation of intense, few-cycle laser sources at operating wavelengths longer than 800 nm. In our recent work [Johnson et al., Sci. Adv. 4(5), eaar3761 (2018)], we have demonstrated a new regime for the generation of X-ray attosecond pulses in the water window (284-540 eV) by high-harmonic generation, which resulted in soft X-ray fluxes of ≈10⁹ photons/s and a maximum photon energy of 600 eV, an order of magnitude and 50 eV higher, respectively, than previously attained with few-cycle drivers. Here we present the key elements of our apparatus for the generation and detection of soft X-ray high harmonic radiation in the water window. Of critical importance is a differentially pumped gas target capable of supporting the multi-atmospheric pressures required to phase-match the high energy emission while strongly constraining the gas density, suppressing the effects of ionization and absorption outside the interaction region.

High-order harmonic source spanning up to the oxygen K-edge based on filamentation pulse compression

We present a 0.2 TW sub-two-cycle 1.8 µm carrier-envelope-phase stable source based on two-stage pulse compression by filamentation for driving high-order harmonic generation extending beyond the oxygen K absorption edge. The 1 kHz repetition rate, high temporal resolution enabled by the short 11.8 fs driving pulse duration, and bright high-order harmonics generated in helium make this an attractive source for solid-state and molecular-dynamics studies.

Sub-4 fs laser pulses at high average power and high repetition rate from an all-solid-state setup

The generation of high average power, carrier-envelope phase (CEP) stable, near-single-cycle pulses at a repetition rate of 100 kHz is demonstrated using an all solid-state setup. By exploiting self-phase modulation in thin quartz plates and air, the spectrum of intense pulses from a high-power, high repetition rate non-collinear optical parametric chirped pulse amplifier (NOPCPA) is extended to beyond one octave, and pulse compression down to 3.7 fs is achieved. The octave-spanning spectrum furthermore allows performing straightforward f-to-2f interferometry by frequency-doubling the long-wavelength part of the spectrum. Excellent CEP-stability is demonstrated for extended periods of time. A full spatio-spectral characterization of the compressed pulses shows only minor asymmetries between the two perpendicular beam axes. We believe that the completed system represents the first laser system satisfying all requirements for performing high repetition rate attosecond pump-probe experiments with fully correlated detection of all ions and electrons produced in the experiment.

Robust enhancement of high harmonic generation via attosecond control of ionization

High-harmonic generation (HHG) is a powerful tool to generate coherent attosecond light pulses in the extreme ultraviolet. However, the low conversion efficiency of HHG at the single atom level poses a significant practical limitation for many applications. Enhancing the efficiency of the process defines one of the primary challenges in the application of HHG as an advanced XUV source. In this work, we demonstrate a new mechanism, which in contrast to current methods, enhances the HHG conversion efficiency purely on a single particle level. We show that using a bichromatic driving field, sub-optical-cycle control and enhancement of the tunnelling ionization rate can be achieved, leading to enhancements in HHG efficiency by up to two orders of magnitude. Our method advances the perspectives of HHG spectroscopy, where isolating the single particle response is an essential component, and offers a simple route toward scalable, robust XUV sources.

Intense broadband mid-infrared pulses of 280 MV/cm for supercontinuum generation in gaseous medium

We produce extremely bright mid-infrared (mid-IR) pulses with a tunable wavelength of 7 μm to 15 μm through difference frequency generation. Optimization of beam quality and beam focusing results in an intense mid-IR field spatiotemporally confined in the lambda-cubic volume. A near planar wavefront is achieved through manipulating the wavefront curvature of the pumping pulse in the frequency downconversion process. Coherent mid-IR pulses are produced with the peak field of 280 MV/cm at 10 μm, and its intensity exceeds 100  TW/cm², estimated from measured pulse energy, and spatial and temporal pulse profiles. Interaction of such an intense mid-IR field with Xe and Kr gas forms plasma and generates a supercontinuum in the visible range.

Atomic-like high-harmonic generation from two-dimensional materials

The generation of high-order harmonics from atomic and molecular gases enables the production of high-energy photons and ultrashort isolated pulses. Obtaining efficiently similar photon energy from solid-state systems could lead, for instance, to more compact extreme ultraviolet and soft x-ray sources. We demonstrate from ab initio simulations that it is possible to generate high-order harmonics from free-standing monolayer materials, with an energy cutoff similar to that of atomic and molecular gases. In the limit in which electrons are driven by the pump laser perpendicularly to the monolayer, they behave qualitatively the same as the electrons responsible for high-harmonic generation (HHG) in atoms, where their trajectories are described by the widely used semiclassical model, and exhibit real-space trajectories similar to those of the atomic case. Despite the similarities, the first and last steps of the well-established three-step model for atomic HHG are remarkably different in the two-dimensional materials from gases. Moreover, we show that the electron-electron interaction plays an important role in harmonic generation from monolayer materials because of strong local-field effects, which modify how the material is ionized. The recombination of the accelerated electron wave packet is also found to be modified because of the infinite extension of the material in the monolayer plane, thus leading to a more favorable wavelength scaling of the harmonic yield than in atomic HHG. Our results establish a novel and efficient way of generating high-order harmonics based on a solid-state device, with an energy cutoff and a more favorable wavelength scaling of the harmonic yield similar to those of atomic and molecular gases. Two-dimensional materials offer a unique platform where both bulk and atomic HHG can be investigated, depending on the angle of incidence. Devices based on two-dimensional materials can extend the limit of existing sources.

Spatial characterization of light beams analyzed by cylindrical-grating slit-less spectrometers

In this work, we theoretically analyze the spatial information provided by cylindrical-grating slit-less spectrometers. We raise attention on the often not considered property that the spatial features acquired using these spectrometers are different from what can be obtained using a spectrometer with an entrance slit. In relation to this, we also highlight that they do not provide information directly on the real spatial beam profile. It is important to consider this fact in spatio-spectral analysis of extreme ultraviolet radiation, often carried out using cylindrical-grating slit-less spectrometers. Since the models used are based on the Fresnel diffraction integral and ideal optical systems, the results are valid also for other spectral regions.

30.5-μJ, 10-kHz, picosecond optical parametric oscillator pumped synchronously and intracavity by a regenerative amplifier

We have proposed a novel approach to realize a high-energy ultrafast optical parametric oscillator (OPO) by intracavity pumping in a regenerative amplifier. In this way, we have experimentally demonstrated an unprecedented pulse energy of 30.5 μJ from a 1.5-μm singly resonant synchronously pumped OPO at a pulse repetition rate of 10 kHz with a pulse width of 7.0 ps. To the best of our knowledge, this is the highest pulse energy from an ultrafast laser OPO.

The roles of photo-carrier doping and driving wavelength in high harmonic generation from a semiconductor

High-harmonic generation from gases produces attosecond bursts and enables high-harmonic spectroscopy to explore electron dynamics in atoms and molecules. Recently, high-harmonic generation from solids has been reported, resulting in novel phenomena and unique control of the emission, absent in gas-phase media. Here we investigate high harmonics from semiconductors with controllable induced photo-carrier densities, as well as the driving wavelengths. We demonstrate that the dominant generation mechanism can be identified by monitoring the variation of the harmonic spectra with the carrier density. Moreover, the harmonic spectral dependence on the driving wavelength is reported and a different dependence from the well-known one in gas-phase media is observed. Our study provides distinct control of the harmonic process from semiconductors, sheds light on the underlying mechanism and helps optimize the harmonic properties for future solid-state attosecond light sources.

The properties of high harmonic generation from solids are not fully understood. Here, Wang et al. control the photo-carriers injected in a semiconductor to distinguish interband and intraband contributions to different high harmonics, and investigate the wavelength dependence of the harmonics.

Quasi-phase-matching of high-order harmonics in plasma plumes: theory and experiment

We theoretically analyze the phase-matching of high-order harmonic generation (HHG) in multi-jet plasmas and find the harmonic orders for which the quasi-phase-matching (QPM) is achieved depending on the parameters of the plasma and the generating beam. HHG by single- and two-color generating fields is analyzed. The QMP is studied experimentally for silver, indium and manganese plasmas using near IR and mid-IR laser fields. The theory is validated by comparison with our experimental observations, as well as published experimental data. In particular, the plasma densities and the harmonic phase coefficients reconstructed from the observed harmonic spectra using our theory agree with the corresponding parameters found using other methods. Our theory allows defining the plasma jet and the generating field properties, which can maximize the HHG efficiency due to QPM.

Thermal effects in an ultrafast BiB3O6 optical parametric oscillator at high average powers

An ultrafast, high-average-power, extended-cavity, femtosecond BiB₃O₆ optical parametric oscillator was constructed as a test bed for investigating the scalability of infrared parametric devices. Despite the high pulse energies achieved by this system, the reduction in slope efficiency near the maximum-available pump power prompted the investigation of thermal effects in the crystal during operation. The local heating effects in the crystal were used to determine the impact on both phase matching and thermal lensing to understand limitations that must be overcome to achieve microjoule-level pulse energies at high repetition rates.

53-attosecond X-ray pulses reach the carbon K-edge

The motion of electrons in the microcosm occurs on a time scale set by the atomic unit of time—24 attoseconds. Attosecond pulses at photon energies corresponding to the fundamental absorption edges of matter, which lie in the soft X-ray regime above 200 eV, permit the probing of electronic excitation, chemical state, and atomic structure. Here we demonstrate a soft X-ray pulse duration of 53 as and single pulse streaking reaching the carbon K-absorption edge (284 eV) by utilizing intense two-cycle driving pulses near 1.8-μm center wavelength. Such pulses permit studies of electron dynamics in live biological samples and next-generation electronic materials such as diamond.

Isolated attosecond pulses are produced using high harmonic generation and sources of these pulses often suffer from low photon flux in soft X-ray regime. Here the authors demonstrate efficient generation and characterization of 53 as pulses with photon energy near the water window.