1
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Galán MF, Serrano J, Jarque EC, Borrego-Varillas R, Lucchini M, Reduzzi M, Nisoli M, Brahms C, Travers JC, Hernández-García C, San Roman J. Robust Isolated Attosecond Pulse Generation with Self-Compressed Subcycle Drivers from Hollow Capillary Fibers. ACS PHOTONICS 2024; 11:1673-1683. [PMID: 38645995 PMCID: PMC11027177 DOI: 10.1021/acsphotonics.3c01897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2023] [Revised: 03/05/2024] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/23/2024]
Abstract
High-order harmonic generation (HHG) arising from the nonperturbative interaction of intense light fields with matter constitutes a well-established tabletop source of coherent extreme-ultraviolet and soft X-ray radiation, which is typically emitted as attosecond pulse trains. However, ultrafast applications increasingly demand isolated attosecond pulses (IAPs), which offer great promise for advancing precision control of electron dynamics. Yet, the direct generation of IAPs typically requires the synthesis of near-single-cycle intense driving fields, which is technologically challenging. In this work, we theoretically demonstrate a novel scheme for the straightforward and compact generation of IAPs from multicycle infrared drivers using hollow capillary fibers (HCFs). Starting from a standard, intense multicycle infrared pulse, a light transient is generated by extreme soliton self-compression in a HCF with decreasing pressure and is subsequently used to drive HHG in a gas target. Owing to the subcycle confinement of the HHG process, high-contrast IAPs are continuously emitted almost independently of the carrier-envelope phase (CEP) of the optimally self-compressed drivers. This results in a CEP-robust scheme which is also stable under macroscopic propagation of the high harmonics in a gas target. Our results open the way to a new generation of integrated all-fiber IAP sources, overcoming the efficiency limitations of usual gating techniques for multicycle drivers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Fernández Galán
- Grupo
de Investigación en Aplicaciones del Láser y Fotónica,
Departamento de Física Aplicada, Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, 37008, Spain
- Unidad
de Excelencia en Luz y Materia Estructuradas (LUMES), Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, 37008, Spain
| | - Javier Serrano
- Grupo
de Investigación en Aplicaciones del Láser y Fotónica,
Departamento de Física Aplicada, Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, 37008, Spain
- Unidad
de Excelencia en Luz y Materia Estructuradas (LUMES), Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, 37008, Spain
| | - Enrique Conejero Jarque
- Grupo
de Investigación en Aplicaciones del Láser y Fotónica,
Departamento de Física Aplicada, Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, 37008, Spain
- Unidad
de Excelencia en Luz y Materia Estructuradas (LUMES), Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, 37008, Spain
| | - Rocío Borrego-Varillas
- Institute
for Photonics and Nanotechnologies (IFN), Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, Milano, 20133, Italy
| | - Matteo Lucchini
- Institute
for Photonics and Nanotechnologies (IFN), Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, Milano, 20133, Italy
- Department
of Physics, Politecnico di Milano, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, Milano, 20133, Italy
| | - Maurizio Reduzzi
- Institute
for Photonics and Nanotechnologies (IFN), Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, Milano, 20133, Italy
- Department
of Physics, Politecnico di Milano, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, Milano, 20133, Italy
| | - Mauro Nisoli
- Institute
for Photonics and Nanotechnologies (IFN), Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, Milano, 20133, Italy
- Department
of Physics, Politecnico di Milano, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, Milano, 20133, Italy
| | - Christian Brahms
- School
of Engineering and Physical Sciences, Heriot-Watt
University, Edinburgh, EH14 4AS, United
Kingdom
| | - John C. Travers
- School
of Engineering and Physical Sciences, Heriot-Watt
University, Edinburgh, EH14 4AS, United
Kingdom
| | - Carlos Hernández-García
- Grupo
de Investigación en Aplicaciones del Láser y Fotónica,
Departamento de Física Aplicada, Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, 37008, Spain
- Unidad
de Excelencia en Luz y Materia Estructuradas (LUMES), Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, 37008, Spain
| | - Julio San Roman
- Grupo
de Investigación en Aplicaciones del Láser y Fotónica,
Departamento de Física Aplicada, Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, 37008, Spain
- Unidad
de Excelencia en Luz y Materia Estructuradas (LUMES), Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, 37008, Spain
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2
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Novelli F, Friebel P, Murillo-Sanchez ML, Michael Klopf J, Cattaneo L. Liquid crystal wave plate operating close to 18 THz. OPTICS LETTERS 2024; 49:2061-2064. [PMID: 38621076 DOI: 10.1364/ol.519177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 03/09/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024]
Abstract
Controlling the properties of mid- and far-infrared radiation can provide a means to transiently alter the properties of materials for novel applications. However, a limited number of optical elements are available to control its polarization state. Here we show that a 15-µm thick liquid crystal cell containing 8CB (4-octyl-4'-cyanobiphenyl) in the ordered, smectic A phase can be used as a phase retarder or wave plate. This was tested using the bright, short-pulsed (∼1 ps) radiation centered at 16.5 µm (18.15 THz) that is emitted by a free electron laser at high repetition rate (13 MHz). These results demonstrate a possible tool for the exploration of the mid- and far-infrared range and could be used to develop novel metamaterials or extend multidimensional spectroscopy to this portion of the electromagnetic spectrum.
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3
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Xie Z, Zhao T, Yu X, Wang J. Nonlinear Optical Properties of 2D Materials and their Applications. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2024:e2311621. [PMID: 38618662 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202311621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2023] [Revised: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/16/2024]
Abstract
2D materials are a subject of intense research in recent years owing to their exclusive photoelectric properties. With giant nonlinear susceptibility and perfect phase matching, 2D materials have marvelous nonlinear light-matter interactions. The nonlinear optical properties of 2D materials are of great significance to the design and analysis of applied materials and functional devices. Here, the fundamental of nonlinear optics (NLO) for 2D materials is introduced, and the methods for characterizing and measuring second-order and third-order nonlinear susceptibility of 2D materials are reviewed. Furthermore, the theoretical and experimental values of second-order susceptibility χ(2) and third-order susceptibility χ(3) are tabulated. Several applications and possible future research directions of second-harmonic generation (SHG) and third-harmonic generation (THG) for 2D materials are presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhixiang Xie
- National Research Center for Optical Sensors/communications Integrated Networks, School of Electronic Science and Engineering, Southeast University, 2 Sipailou, Nanjing, 210096, China
| | - Tianxiang Zhao
- National Research Center for Optical Sensors/communications Integrated Networks, School of Electronic Science and Engineering, Southeast University, 2 Sipailou, Nanjing, 210096, China
| | - Xuechao Yu
- Key Laboratory of Multifunctional Nanomaterials and Smart Systems, Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215123, China
| | - Junjia Wang
- National Research Center for Optical Sensors/communications Integrated Networks, School of Electronic Science and Engineering, Southeast University, 2 Sipailou, Nanjing, 210096, China
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4
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Eschen W, Liu C, Steinert M, Penagos Molina DS, Siefke T, Zeitner UD, Kasper J, Pertsch T, Limpert J, Rothhardt J. Structured illumination ptychography and at-wavelength characterization with an EUV diffuser at 13.5 nm wavelength. OPTICS EXPRESS 2024; 32:3480-3491. [PMID: 38297568 DOI: 10.1364/oe.507715] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 02/02/2024]
Abstract
Structured illumination is essential for high-performance ptychography. Especially in the extreme ultraviolet (EUV) range, where reflective optics are prevalent, the generation of structured beams is challenging and, so far, mostly amplitude-only masks have been used. In this study, we generate a highly structured beam using a phase-shifting diffuser optimized for 13.5 nm wavelength and apply this beam to EUV ptychography. This tailored illumination significantly enhances the quality and resolution of the ptychography reconstructions. In particular, when utilizing the full dynamics range of the detector, the resolution has been improved from 125 nm, when using an unstructured beam, to 34 nm. Further, ptychography enables the quantitative measurement of both the amplitude and phase of the EUV diffuser at 13.5 nm wavelength. This capability allows us to evaluate the influence of imperfections and contaminations on its "at wavelength" performance, paving the way for advanced EUV metrology applications and highlighting its importance for future developments in nanolithography and related fields.
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5
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Yu X, Zha F, Pan Z, Chu H, Pan H, Li D. Diode-pumped Tm:YAP laser operating at 2.3 µm with enhanced performance through cascade lasing. OPTICS EXPRESS 2024; 32:3461-3469. [PMID: 38297566 DOI: 10.1364/oe.507031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 12/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/02/2024]
Abstract
The laser diode (LD)-pumped Tm:YAP (a-cut, 3.5 at.%) laser generated a maximum ∼2.3 µm continuous wave (CW) laser output power of ∼3 W. The higher output power benefited from the positive effect of the cascade lasing (simultaneously operating on the 3H4 → 3H5 and 3F4 → 3H6 Tm3+ transition). It was the highest CW laser output power amongst the LD/Ti:Sapphire-CW-pumped ∼2.3 µm Tm3+-doped lasers reported so far. Under the cascade laser operation, the slope efficiency of the ∼2.3 µm laser emission versus the absorbed pump power increased from 13.0% to 21.4%.
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Hettel W, Golba G, Morrill D, Carlson D, Chang P, Wu TH, Diddams S, Kapteyn H, Murnane M, Hemmer M. Compact, ultrastable, high repetition-rate 2 μm and 3 μm fiber laser for seeding mid-IR OPCPA. OPTICS EXPRESS 2024; 32:4072-4080. [PMID: 38297615 DOI: 10.1364/oe.508127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 02/02/2024]
Abstract
We report a compact and reliable ultrafast fiber laser system optimized for seeding a high energy, 2 μm pumped, 3 μm wavelength optical parametric chirped pulse amplification to drive soft X-ray high harmonics. The system delivers 100 MHz narrowband 2 μm pulses with >1 nJ energy, synchronized with ultra-broadband optical pulses with a ∼1 μm FWHM spectrum centered at 3 μm with 39 pJ pulse energy. The 2 μm and 3 μm pulses are derived from a single 1.5 μm fiber oscillator, fully fiber integrated with free-space downconversion for the 3 μm. The system operates hands-off with power instabilities <0.2% over extended periods of time.
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7
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Li J, Li K, Zhang X, Popmintchev D, Xu H, Wang Y, Li R, Zhang G, Tang J, Niu J, Ma Y, Meng R, Ke C, Qiu J, Ma Y, Popmintchev T, Fan Z. Highly efficient and aberration-free off-plane grating spectrometer and monochromator for EUV-soft X-ray applications. LIGHT, SCIENCE & APPLICATIONS 2024; 13:12. [PMID: 38185683 PMCID: PMC10772113 DOI: 10.1038/s41377-023-01342-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2023] [Revised: 11/11/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2024]
Abstract
We demonstrate a novel flat-field, dual-optic imaging EUV-soft X-ray spectrometer and monochromator that attains an unprecedented throughput efficiency exceeding 60% by design, along with a superb spectral resolution of λ/Δλ > 200 accomplished without employing variable line spacing gratings. Exploiting the benefits of the conical diffraction geometry, the optical system is globally optimized in multidimensional parameter space to guarantee optimal imaging performance over a broad spectral range while maintaining circular and elliptical polarization states at the first, second, and third diffraction orders. Moreover, our analysis indicates minimal temporal dispersion, with pulse broadening confined within 80 fs tail-to-tail and an FWHM value of 29 fs, which enables ultrafast spectroscopic and pump-probe studies with femtosecond accuracy. Furthermore, the spectrometer can be effortlessly transformed into a monochromator spanning the EUV-soft X-ray spectral region using a single grating with an aberration-free spatial profile. Such capability allows coherent diffractive imaging applications to be conducted with highly monochromatic light in a broad spectral range and extended to the soft X-ray region with minimal photon loss, thus facilitating state-of-the-art imaging of intricate nano- and bio-systems, with a significantly enhanced spatiotemporal resolution, down to the nanometer-femtosecond level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Li
- Aerospace Information Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100094, China.
- School of Optoelectronics, University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.
| | - Kui Li
- Aerospace Information Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100094, China
- School of Optoelectronics, University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Xiaoshi Zhang
- Aerospace Information Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100094, China.
- School of Optoelectronics, University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.
- Yunnan University, Kunming, Yunnan, 650500, China.
| | | | - Hao Xu
- Aerospace Information Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100094, China
| | - Yutong Wang
- Aerospace Information Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100094, China
| | - Ruixuan Li
- Aerospace Information Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100094, China
- School of Optoelectronics, University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Guangyin Zhang
- Aerospace Information Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100094, China
- School of Optoelectronics, University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Jiyue Tang
- Aerospace Information Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100094, China
- School of Optoelectronics, University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Jin Niu
- Aerospace Information Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100094, China
- School of Optoelectronics, University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Yongjun Ma
- Aerospace Information Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100094, China
| | - Runyu Meng
- School of Optoelectronics, University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
- Yunnan Observatories, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, 650011, China
| | - Changjun Ke
- Aerospace Information Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100094, China
- School of Optoelectronics, University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Jisi Qiu
- Aerospace Information Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100094, China
- School of Optoelectronics, University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Yunfeng Ma
- Aerospace Information Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100094, China
- School of Optoelectronics, University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Tenio Popmintchev
- Photonics Institute, TU Wien, Vienna, A-1040, Austria.
- University of California, Physics Department, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA.
| | - Zhongwei Fan
- School of Optoelectronics, University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.
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8
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Tu Z, Guo J, Gan Z, Gao Z, Gao Y, Huang Y, Guo W, Liang X. Dual-slab Yb:KGd(WO 4) 2 regenerative amplifier for spectral shaping and high-power output. OPTICS LETTERS 2023; 48:6263-6266. [PMID: 38039242 DOI: 10.1364/ol.510381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2023] [Accepted: 11/17/2023] [Indexed: 12/03/2023]
Abstract
A high-power regenerative amplifier (RA) based on dual-slab Yb:KGd(WO4)2 (Yb:KGW) was demonstrated, which provided a maximum average power of 33.7 W at a repetition rate of 75-200 kHz before compression with a central wavelength of 1039 nm, corresponding to an optical-to-optical conversion efficiency of 51.4%. To the best of our knowledge, this is the highest average power from the Yb:KGW solid-state RA. The compressed pulse duration of 205 fs was realized under the maximum output power. By adjusting the gain of the crystals, respectively, the spectral shaping can be achieved. A combination spectrum with root-mean-square (RMS) bandwidth of 4.5 nm was generated with a central wavelength of 1035 nm at an output power of 20 W, the compressed pulse duration was 159 fs. Meanwhile, effective mitigation of thermal effects by dual-slab configuration guaranteed the nearly diffraction-limited beam quality: M x2 = 1.17 and M y2 = 1.20.
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9
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Zen H, Hajima R, Ohgaki H. Nonlinear compression of naturally down-chirped superradiance pulses from a free-electron laser oscillator by thick germanium plates. OPTICS EXPRESS 2023; 31:40928-40936. [PMID: 38041381 DOI: 10.1364/oe.503090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 12/03/2023]
Abstract
Naturally down-chirped superradiance pulses, with mirco-pulse energy, peak wavelength, and micropulse duration of 40 µJ, 8.7 μm, and 5.1 optical cycles, respectively, emitted from a free-electron laser (FEL) oscillator were nonlinearly compressed down to 3.7 optical cycles using a 30-mm-thick Ge plate. The peak power enhancement owing to nonlinear compression was found to be 40%. The achieved peak power and pulse duration were comparable to those of recently developed high-intensity and few-cycle long-wavelength infrared sources based on solid-state lasers. FEL oscillators operating in the superradiance regime can serve as unique tools for studying strong-field physics in long-wavelength infrared regions.
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10
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Si M, Huang Y, Ruan M, Shen B, Xu Z, Yu T, Wang X, Chen Y. Relativistic-guided stable mode of few-cycle 20 µm level infrared radiation. OPTICS EXPRESS 2023; 31:40202-40209. [PMID: 38041326 DOI: 10.1364/oe.503814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/03/2023]
Abstract
The generation of intense infrared radiation with a wavelength greater than 10 µm is limited by the optical materials in traditional methods or the laser-plasma parameters of plasma-bubble methods. In this study, we propose a new method for generating an intense longitudinal radiation field of tens of GV/m. By utilizing the oscillations of the electron film on the inner surface of the micro-tube, excited by the relativistic electron beam propagating within it, it is possible to obtain tunable long-wavelength few-cycle infrared radiation, ranging from 20 to 30 µm and even longer. The radiation source is guided entirely by a relativistic electron beam and formed a stable TM propagation mode in the micro-tube. This opens up new opportunities for applications of the relativistic intensity infrared radiation to high-field physics, shorter attosecond pulses generation and charged particle acceleration.
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Thiré N, Chatterjee G, Pertot Y, Albert O, Karras G, Zhang Y, Wyatt AS, Towrie M, Springate E, Greetham GM, Forget N. A versatile high-average-power ultrafast infrared driver tailored for high-harmonic generation and vibrational spectroscopy. Sci Rep 2023; 13:18874. [PMID: 37914852 PMCID: PMC10620204 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-46325-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023] Open
Abstract
We report on an ultrafast infrared optical parametric chirped-pulse amplifier (OPCPA), pumped by a 200-W thin-disk Yb-based regenerative amplifier at a repetition rate of 100 kHz. The OPCPA is tunable in the spectral range 1.4-3.9 [Formula: see text]m, generating up to 23 W of < 100-fs signal and 13 W of < 200-fs idler pulses for infrared spectroscopy, with additional spectral filtering capabilities for Raman spectroscopy. The OPCPA can also yield 19 W of 49-fs 1.75-[Formula: see text]m signal or 5 W of 62-fs 2.8-[Formula: see text]m idler pulses with active carrier-to-envelope-phase (CEP) stabilisation for high-harmonic generation (HHG). We illustrate the versatility of the laser design, catering to various experimental requirements for probing ultrafast science.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas Thiré
- Fastlite, 165 route des cistes, 06600, Antibes, France.
| | - Gourab Chatterjee
- STFC Central Laser Facility, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire, OX11 0QX, UK.
- SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, 2575 Sand Hill Road, Menlo Park, CA, 94025, USA.
| | - Yoann Pertot
- Fastlite, 165 route des cistes, 06600, Antibes, France
| | | | - Gabriel Karras
- STFC Central Laser Facility, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire, OX11 0QX, UK
- Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire, OX11 0DE, UK
| | - Yu Zhang
- STFC Central Laser Facility, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire, OX11 0QX, UK
| | - Adam S Wyatt
- STFC Central Laser Facility, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire, OX11 0QX, UK
| | - Michael Towrie
- STFC Central Laser Facility, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire, OX11 0QX, UK
| | - Emma Springate
- STFC Central Laser Facility, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire, OX11 0QX, UK
| | - Gregory M Greetham
- STFC Central Laser Facility, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire, OX11 0QX, UK
| | - Nicolas Forget
- Fastlite, 165 route des cistes, 06600, Antibes, France
- CNRS UMR7010 INPHYNI, 1361 route des Lucioles, 06560, Valbonne, France
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12
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Milošević DB, Habibović D. High-order harmonic generation by aligned homonuclear diatomic cations. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2023; 25:28848-28860. [PMID: 37853799 DOI: 10.1039/d3cp02447d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2023]
Abstract
We introduce the theory of high-order harmonic generation by aligned homonuclear diatomic cations using a strong-field approximation. The target cation is represented as a system which consists of two atomic (ionic) centres and one active electron, while the driving field is either a monochromatic or bichromatic field. For a linearly polarised driving field, we investigate the differences between the harmonic spectra obtained with a neutral molecule and the corresponding molecular cation. Due to the larger ionisation potential, the molecular cations can withstand much higher laser-field intensity than the corresponding neutral molecule before the saturation effects become significant. This allows one to produce high-order harmonics with energy in the water-window interval or beyond. Also, the harmonic spectrum provides information about the structure of the highest-occupied molecular orbital. In order to obtain elliptically polarised harmonics, we suggest that an orthogonally polarised two-colour field is employed as a driving field. In this case, we analyse the harmonic ellipticity as a function of the relative orientation of the cation in the laser field. We show that the regions with large harmonic ellipticity in the harmonic energy-orientation angle plane are the broadest for cations whose molecular orbital does not have a nodal plane. Finally, we show that the molecular cations exposed to an orthogonally polarised two-colour field represent an excellent setup for the production of elliptically polarised attosecond pulses with a duration shorter than 100 as.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dejan B Milošević
- University of Sarajevo, Faculty of Science, Zmaja od Bosne 33-35, 71000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
- Academy of Sciences and Arts of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bistrik 7, 71000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
| | - Dino Habibović
- University of Sarajevo, Faculty of Science, Zmaja od Bosne 33-35, 71000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
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13
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Liu J, Ding Y, Gu X, Yuan P, Zhang D, Wang J, Xie G, Tu H, Yao J, Qian L, Ma J. Sub-picosecond tunable mid-infrared light source for driving high-efficiency optical rectification. OPTICS EXPRESS 2023; 31:36410-36419. [PMID: 38017794 DOI: 10.1364/oe.504548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 11/30/2023]
Abstract
Optical rectification (OR) is a popular way to generate coherent terahertz radiation. Here, we develop a sub-picosecond mid-infrared (mid-IR) light source with a tailored wavelength and pulse duration for enhancing the OR efficiency. Numerical simulations for a LiNbO3-based OR with tilted pulse-front excitation are first conducted to determine the optimal parameters of pump wavelength and pulse duration, demonstrating that the OR efficiency pumped by 4-µm sub-picosecond (0.5-0.6 ps) pulses is approximately twice the value with 0.8-µm pump at the same conditions. Guided by the simulation results, we build a BaGa4Se7-based optical parametric chirped-pulse amplification system with 1030-nm thin-disk pump and broadband mid-IR seeds. The output performances of >200-µJ pulse energy, ∼600-fs pulse duration and 1-kHz pulse repetition rate are achieved in a spectral range tunable from 3.5 to 5 µm. The large energy scalability and high parameter tunability make the light source attractive to high-efficiency OR in various materials.
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14
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Herbert JM, Zhu Y, Alam B, Ojha AK. Time-Dependent Density Functional Theory for X-ray Absorption Spectra: Comparing the Real-Time Approach to Linear Response. J Chem Theory Comput 2023; 19:6745-6760. [PMID: 37708349 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jctc.3c00673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/16/2023]
Abstract
We simulate X-ray absorption spectra at elemental K-edges using time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) in both its conventional linear-response implementation and its explicitly time-dependent or "real-time" formulation. Real-time TDDFT simulations enable broadband spectra calculations without the need to invoke frozen occupied orbitals ("core/valence separation"), but we find that these spectra are often contaminated by transitions to the continuum that originate from lower-energy core and semicore orbitals. This problem becomes acute in triple-ζ basis sets, although it is sometimes sidestepped in double-ζ basis sets. Transitions to the continuum acquire surprisingly large dipole oscillator strengths, leading to spectra that are difficult to interpret. Meaningful spectra can be recovered by means of a filtering technique that decomposes the spectrum into contributions from individual occupied orbitals, and the same procedure can be used to separate L- and K-edge spectra arising from different elements within a given molecule. In contrast, conventional linear-response TDDFT requires core/valence separation but is free of these artifacts. It is also significantly more efficient than the real-time approach, even when hundreds of individual states are needed to reproduce near-edge absorption features and even when Padé approximants are used to reduce the real-time simulations to just 2-4 fs of time propagation. Despite the cost, the real-time approach may be useful to examine the validity of the core/valence separation approximation.
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Affiliation(s)
- John M Herbert
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, United States
- Chemical Physics Graduate Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, United States
| | - Ying Zhu
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, United States
- Chemical Physics Graduate Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, United States
| | - Bushra Alam
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, United States
| | - Avik Kumar Ojha
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, United States
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15
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Shim B, Nagar GC, Wu Y, Chang Z. Generation of high-order harmonics and attosecond pulses in the water window via nonlinear propagation of a few-cycle laser pulse. OPTICS EXPRESS 2023; 31:32488-32503. [PMID: 37859051 DOI: 10.1364/oe.499371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2023] [Accepted: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023]
Abstract
We theoretically and computationally study the generation of high-order harmonics in the water window from a semi-infinite gas cell where a few-cycle, carrier-envelope-phase-controlled 1.7-µm driving laser pulse undergoes nonlinear propagation via optical Kerr effect (self-focusing) and plasma defocusing. Our calculation shows that high harmonic signals are enhanced for extended propagation distances and furthermore, isolated attosecond pulses in the water window can be generated from the semi-infinite gas cell. This enhancement is attributed mainly to better phase matching for extended propagation distances achieved via nonlinear propagation and resulting intensity stabilization.
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16
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Appi E, Weissenbilder R, Nagyillés B, Diveki Z, Peschel J, Farkas B, Plach M, Vismarra F, Poulain V, Weber N, Arnold CL, Varjú K, Kahaly S, Eng-Johnsson P, L'Huillier A. Two phase-matching regimes in high-order harmonic generation. OPTICS EXPRESS 2023; 31:31687-31697. [PMID: 37858988 DOI: 10.1364/oe.488298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2023] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023]
Abstract
High-order harmonic generation (HHG) provides scalable sources of coherent extreme ultraviolet radiation with pulse duration down to the attosecond time scale. Efficient HHG requires the constructive interplay between microscopic and macroscopic effects in the generation volume, which can be achieved over a large range of experimental parameters from the driving field properties to those of the generating medium. Here, we present a systematic study of the harmonic yield as a function of gas pressure and medium length. Two regimes for optimum yield are identified, supporting the predictions of a recently proposed analytical model. Our observations are independent on the focusing geometry and, to a large extent, on the pulse duration and laser intensity, providing a versatile approach to HHG optimization.
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17
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Caplins BW, Chiaramonti AN, Garcia JM, Sanford NA, Miaja-Avila L. Atom probe tomography using an extreme ultraviolet trigger pulse. THE REVIEW OF SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS 2023; 94:093704. [PMID: 37702562 PMCID: PMC10542968 DOI: 10.1063/5.0160797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 08/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/14/2023]
Abstract
Atom probe tomography (APT) is a powerful materials characterization technique capable of measuring the isotopically resolved three-dimensional (3D) structure of nanoscale specimens with atomic resolution. Modern APT instrumentation most often uses an optical pulse to trigger field ion evaporation-most commonly, the second or third harmonic of a Nd laser is utilized (∼λ = 532 nm or λ = 355 nm). Herein, we describe an APT instrument that utilizes ultrafast extreme ultraviolet (EUV) optical pulses to trigger field ion emission. The EUV light is generated via a commercially available high harmonic generation system based on a noble-gas-filled capillary. The centroid of the EUV spectrum is tunable from around 25 eV (λ = 50 nm) to 45 eV (λ = 28 nm), dependent on the identity of the gas in the capillary (Xe, Kr, or Ar). EUV pulses are delivered to the APT analysis chamber via a vacuum beamline that was optimized to maximize photon flux at the APT specimen apex while minimizing complexity. We describe the design of the beamline in detail, including the various compromises involved. We characterize the spectrum of the EUV light and its evolution as it propagates through the various optical elements. The EUV focus spot size is measured at the APT specimen plane, and the effects of misalignment are simulated and discussed. The long-term stability of the EUV source has been demonstrated for more than a year. Finally, APT mass spectra are shown, demonstrating the instrument's ability to successfully trigger field ion emission from semiconductors (Si, GaN) and insulating materials (Al2O3).
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin W Caplins
- Applied Chemicals and Materials Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Boulder, Colorado 80305, USA
| | - Ann N Chiaramonti
- Applied Chemicals and Materials Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Boulder, Colorado 80305, USA
| | - Jacob M Garcia
- Applied Chemicals and Materials Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Boulder, Colorado 80305, USA
| | - Norman A Sanford
- Applied Physics Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Boulder, Colorado 80305, USA
| | - Luis Miaja-Avila
- Applied Physics Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Boulder, Colorado 80305, USA
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18
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Ghomashi B, Walker S, Becker A. Enabling elliptically polarized high harmonic generation with short cross polarized laser pulses. Sci Rep 2023; 13:12843. [PMID: 37553388 PMCID: PMC10409740 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-39814-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 08/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Enabling elliptically polarized high-order harmonics overcomes a historical limitation in the generation of this highly nonlinear process in atomic, molecular and optical physics with applications in other branches. Here, we shed new light on a controversy between experimental observations and theoretical predictions on the possibility to generate harmonics with large ellipticity using two bichromatic laser pulses which are linearly polarized in orthogonal directions. Results of numerical calculations confirm the previous experimental data that in short laser pulses even harmonics with large ellipticity can be obtained for the interaction of such cross-polarized laser pulses with atoms initially in a s- or p-state, while odd harmonics have low ellipticity. The amount of the ellipticity can be controlled via the relative carrier-envelope phase of the pulses, their intensity ratio and the duration of the pulses.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Ghomashi
- JILA and Department of Physics, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, 80309-0440, USA.
| | - S Walker
- JILA and Department of Physics, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, 80309-0440, USA
| | - A Becker
- JILA and Department of Physics, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, 80309-0440, USA
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19
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Yu X, Pan Z, Chu H, Pan H, Zhao S, Li D. Diode-pumped efficient high-power cascade Tm:GdVO 4 laser simultaneously operating at ∼2 μm and ∼2.3 μm. OPTICS EXPRESS 2023; 31:26368-26377. [PMID: 37710499 DOI: 10.1364/oe.497230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 09/16/2023]
Abstract
The laser diode (LD)-pumped efficient high-power cascade Tm:GdVO4 laser simultaneously operating on the 3F4 → 3H6 (at ∼2 μm) and 3H4 → 3H5 (at ∼2.3 μm) Tm3+ transition was first reported in this paper. The cascade Tm:GdVO4 laser generated a maximum total continuous-wave (CW) laser output power of 8.42 W with a slope efficiency of 40%, out of which the maximum ∼2.3 μm CW laser output power was 2.88 W with a slope efficiency of 14%. To our knowledge, 2.88 W is the highest CW laser output power amongst the LD-CW-pumped ∼2.3 μm Tm3+-doped lasers reported so far.
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20
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Seeger MF, Kammerer D, Blöchl J, Neuhaus M, Pervak V, Nubbemeyer T, Kling MF. 49 W carrier-envelope-phase-stable few-cycle 2.1 µm OPCPA at 10 kHz. OPTICS EXPRESS 2023; 31:24821-24834. [PMID: 37475300 DOI: 10.1364/oe.493326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 07/22/2023]
Abstract
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.
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21
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Marble CB, Sanderson CR, Ballmann CW, Yakovlev VV. Extreme nonlinear optics in a long pulse regime: High harmonic generation of picosecond mid-IR pulses in polycrystalline zinc selenide. APPLIED PHYSICS LETTERS 2023; 122:251105. [PMID: 37362153 PMCID: PMC10287175 DOI: 10.1063/5.0147756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2023] [Accepted: 06/11/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023]
Abstract
High harmonic generation (HHG) in semiconductors has been extensively studied recently in the high-intensity limit using middle infrared (mid-IR) femtosecond laser pulses resulting in emission spectra of self-phase modulated harmonics resting on top of a broadband continuum. In this report, a different approach to HHG in polycrystalline zinc selenide (poly-ZnSe) was explored utilizing a relatively low power regime (1-40 GW/cm2) and much longer (30 ps) mid-IR laser pulses. Through a combination of low power, picosecond excitation, and narrowband (<10 nm full width at half maximum) mid-IR excitation, the nonlinear optical effects in poly-ZnSe could be isolated and studied independently. From the clearly distinguishable HHG peaks, harmonic conversion efficiencies of 10-4-10-12 for second to ninth harmonic in poly-ZnSe were measured, and the relationship between the Nth harmonic intensity and excitation intensity (I0) was found to follow a power law, I0x with x ≤ N/2, as a result of the random quasi-phase matching process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher B. Marble
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, USA
| | - Carl R. Sanderson
- Systems Management and Production Center, The University of Alabama in Huntsville, Huntsville, Alabama 34899, USA
| | - Charles W. Ballmann
- Systems Management and Production Center, The University of Alabama in Huntsville, Huntsville, Alabama 34899, USA
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22
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Petrov LS, Georgiev K, Velkov D, Trifonov A, Xu X, Popmintchev T, Buchvarov I. Multi-millijoule class, high repetition rate, Yb:CALYO regenerative amplifier with sub-130 fs pulses. OPTICS EXPRESS 2023; 31:18765-18772. [PMID: 37381309 DOI: 10.1364/oe.487923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 06/30/2023]
Abstract
We demonstrate a high-energy, 1 kilohertz, Yb-based, femtosecond regenerative amplifier in a chirped pulse amplification (CPA) architecture by using a single disordered Yb:CALYO crystal, providing 125 fs pulses of 2.3 mJ energy per pulse at a central wavelength of 1039 nm. The amplified compressed pulses, with a spectral bandwidth of 13.6 nm, represent the shortest ultrafast pulse duration reported to date for any multi-millijoule class,Yb-crystalline classical CPA system without additional spectral broadening techniques. We have demonstrated an increase in the gain bandwidth proportionally to the ratio of the excited to total Yb3+ ion densities. A net wider spectrum of the amplified pulses is the result of the interplay between the increased gain bandwidth and the gain narrowing. Finally, our broadest amplified spectrum of 16.6 nm, corresponding to a 96 fs transform limited pulse, can be expanded further to support sub-100 fs pulse durations and 1-10 mJ energies at 1 kHz.
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23
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Pergament M, Kellert M, Demirbas U, Thesinga J, Reuter S, Liu Y, Hua Y, Kilinc M, Yakovlev A, Kärtner FX. 100-mJ, 100-W cryogenically cooled Yb:YLF laser. OPTICS LETTERS 2023; 48:2833-2836. [PMID: 37262222 DOI: 10.1364/ol.489397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
We present a diode-pumped Yb:YLF laser system generating 100-mJ sub-ps pulses at a 1-kHz repetition rate (100 W average power) by chirped-pulse amplification. The laser consists of a cryogenically cooled 78 K, regenerative, eight-pass booster amplifier seeded by an all-fiber front end. The output pulses are compressed to 980 fs in a single-grating Treacy compressor with a throughput of 89%. The laser will be applied to multi-cycle THz generation and pumping of high average power parametric amplifiers.
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24
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Abstract
The topological properties of an object, associated with an integer called the topological invariant, are global features that cannot change continuously but only through abrupt variations, hence granting them intrinsic robustness. Engineered metamaterials (MMs) can be tailored to support highly nontrivial topological properties of their band structure, relative to their electronic, electromagnetic, acoustic and mechanical response, representing one of the major breakthroughs in physics over the past decade. Here, we review the foundations and the latest advances of topological photonic and phononic MMs, whose nontrivial wave interactions have become of great interest to a broad range of science disciplines, such as classical and quantum chemistry. We first introduce the basic concepts, including the notion of topological charge and geometric phase. We then discuss the topology of natural electronic materials, before reviewing their photonic/phononic topological MM analogues, including 2D topological MMs with and without time-reversal symmetry, Floquet topological insulators, 3D, higher-order, non-Hermitian and nonlinear topological MMs. We also discuss the topological aspects of scattering anomalies, chemical reactions and polaritons. This work aims at connecting the recent advances of topological concepts throughout a broad range of scientific areas and it highlights opportunities offered by topological MMs for the chemistry community and beyond.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiang Ni
- Photonics Initiative, Advanced Science Research Center, City University of New York, New York, New York 10031, United States
- School of Physics and Electronics, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410083, China
| | - Simon Yves
- Photonics Initiative, Advanced Science Research Center, City University of New York, New York, New York 10031, United States
| | - Alex Krasnok
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Florida International University, Miami, Florida 33174, USA
| | - Andrea Alù
- Photonics Initiative, Advanced Science Research Center, City University of New York, New York, New York 10031, United States
- Department of Electrical Engineering, City College, The City University of New York, 160 Convent Avenue, New York, New York 10031, United States
- Physics Program, The Graduate Center, The City University of New York, 365 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10016, United States
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25
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Fu W, Wang J, Yu J, Li W. Extension of high-order harmonic generation cutoff from laser-ablated tin plasma plumes. OPTICS EXPRESS 2023; 31:15553-15563. [PMID: 37157654 DOI: 10.1364/oe.485697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
The high-order harmonic spectra from laser-ablated tin plasma plumes are investigated experimentally and theoretically at different laser wavelengths. It is found that the harmonic cutoff is extended to ∼84 eV and the harmonic yield is greatly improved by decreasing the driving laser wavelength from 800 nm to 400 nm. Appling the Perelomov-Popov-Terent'ev theory with the semiclassical cutoff law and one-dimensional time-dependent Schrödinger equation, the contribution of the Sn3+ ion to harmonic generation accounts for the cutoff extension at 400 nm. With the qualitative analysis of the phase mismatching effect, we reveal the phase matching caused by the dispersion of free electrons is greatly optimized in the 400 nm driving field relative to the 800 nm driving field. The high-order harmonic generated from laser-ablated tin plasma plumes driven by the short laser wavelength provides a promising way to extend cutoff energy and generate intensely coherent extreme ultraviolet radiation.
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26
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Truong TC, Beetar JE, Chini M. Light-field synthesizer based on multidimensional solitary states in hollow-core fibers. OPTICS LETTERS 2023; 48:2397-2400. [PMID: 37126282 DOI: 10.1364/ol.487607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Few-cycle, long-wavelength sources for generating isolated attosecond soft x ray pulses typically rely upon complex laser architectures. Here, we demonstrate a comparatively simple setup for generating sub-two-cycle pulses in the short-wave infrared based on multidimensional solitary states in an N2O-filled hollow-core fiber and a two-channel light-field synthesizer. Due to the temporal phase imprinted by the rotational nonlinearity of the molecular gas, the redshifted (from 1.03 to 1.36 µm central wavelength) supercontinuum pulses generated from a Yb-doped laser amplifier are compressed from 280 to 7 fs using only bulk materials for dispersion compensation.
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27
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Mi X, Zhang M, Zhang L, Wu C, Zhou T, Xu H, Xie C, Li Z, Liu Y. Geometric Phase Effect in Attosecond Stimulated X-ray Raman Spectroscopy. J Phys Chem A 2023; 127:3608-3613. [PMID: 37053512 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpca.3c00594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Conical intersections (CIs) are diabolical points in the potential energy surfaces generally caused by point-wise degeneracy of different electronic states, and give rise to the geometric phases (GPs) of molecular wave functions. Here we theoretically propose and demonstrate that the transient redistribution of ultrafast electronic coherence in attosecond Raman signal (TRUECARS) spectroscopy is capable of detecting the GP effect in excited state molecules by applying two probe pulses including an attosecond and a femtosecond X-ray pulse. The mechanism is based on a set of symmetry selection rules in the presence of nontrivial GPs. The model of this work can be realized for probing the geometric phase effect in the excited state dynamics of complex molecules with appropriate symmetries, using attosecond light sources such as free-electron X-ray lasers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyu Mi
- State Key Laboratory for Mesoscopic Physics and Collaborative Innovation Center of Quantum Matter, School of Physics, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Ming Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Mesoscopic Physics and Collaborative Innovation Center of Quantum Matter, School of Physics, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Linfeng Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Mesoscopic Physics and Collaborative Innovation Center of Quantum Matter, School of Physics, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Chengyin Wu
- State Key Laboratory for Mesoscopic Physics and Collaborative Innovation Center of Quantum Matter, School of Physics, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
- Peking University Yangtze Delta Institute of Optoelectronics, Nantong, Jiangsu 226000 China
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Extreme Optics, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, Shanxi 030006, China
| | - Tianyu Zhou
- State Key Laboratory for Mesoscopic Physics and Collaborative Innovation Center of Quantum Matter, School of Physics, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Haitan Xu
- School of Materials Science and Intelligent Engineering, Nanjing University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215163, China
- School of Physical Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Changjian Xie
- Institute of Modern Physics, Shanxi Key Laboratory for Theoretical Physics Frontiers, Northwest University, Xi'an 710127, China
| | - Zheng Li
- State Key Laboratory for Mesoscopic Physics and Collaborative Innovation Center of Quantum Matter, School of Physics, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
- Peking University Yangtze Delta Institute of Optoelectronics, Nantong, Jiangsu 226000 China
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Extreme Optics, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, Shanxi 030006, China
| | - Yunquan Liu
- State Key Laboratory for Mesoscopic Physics and Collaborative Innovation Center of Quantum Matter, School of Physics, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Extreme Optics, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, Shanxi 030006, China
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28
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Dalla-Barba G, Jargot G, Lassonde P, Tóth S, Haddad E, Boschini F, Delagnes JC, Leblanc A, Ibrahim H, Cormier E, Légaré F. Mid-infrared frequency domain optical parametric amplifier. OPTICS EXPRESS 2023; 31:14954-14964. [PMID: 37157348 DOI: 10.1364/oe.487813] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
We report on an optical architecture delivering sub-120 femtosecond laser pulses of 20 µJ tunable from 5.5 µm to 13 µm in the mid-infrared range (mid-IR). The system is based on a dual-band frequency domain optical parametric amplifier (FOPA) optically pumped by a Ti:Sapphire laser and amplifying 2 synchronized femtosecond pulses each with a widely tunable wavelength around 1.6 and 1.9 µm respectively. These amplified pulses are then combined in a GaSe crystal to produce the mid-IR few-cycle pulses by means of difference frequency generation (DFG). The architecture provides a passively stabilized carrier-envelope phase (CEP) whose fluctuations has been characterized to 370 mrad RMS.
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29
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Eschen W, Liu C, Penagos Molina DS, Klas R, Limpert J, Rothhardt J. High-speed and wide-field nanoscale table-top ptychographic EUV imaging and beam characterization with a sCMOS detector. OPTICS EXPRESS 2023; 31:14212-14224. [PMID: 37157290 DOI: 10.1364/oe.485779] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
We present high-speed and wide-field EUV ptychography at 13.5 nm wavelength using a table-top high-order harmonic source. Compared to previous measurements, the total measurement time is significantly reduced by up to a factor of five by employing a scientific complementary metal oxide semiconductor (sCMOS) detector that is combined with an optimized multilayer mirror configuration. The fast frame rate of the sCMOS detector enables wide-field imaging with a field of view of 100 µm × 100 µm with an imaging speed of 4.6 Mpix/h. Furthermore, fast EUV wavefront characterization is employed using a combination of the sCMOS detector with orthogonal probe relaxation.
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30
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Cui Y, Huang H, Bai Y, Du W, Chen M, Zhou B, Jovanovic I, Galvanauskas A. Long-wave-infrared pulse production at 11 µm via difference-frequency generation driven by femtosecond mid-infrared all-fluoride fiber laser. OPTICS LETTERS 2023; 48:1890-1893. [PMID: 37221792 DOI: 10.1364/ol.480010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 02/25/2023] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
We present an ultrafast long-wave infrared (LWIR) source driven by a mid-infrared fluoride fiber laser. It is based on a mode-locked Er:ZBLAN fiber oscillator and a nonlinear amplifier operating at 48 MHz. The amplified soliton pulses at ∼2.9 µm are shifted to ∼4 µm via the soliton self-frequency shifting process in an InF3 fiber. LWIR pulses with an average power of 1.25-mW centered at 11 µm with a spectral bandwidth of ∼1.3 µm are produced through difference-frequency generation (DFG) of the amplified soliton and its frequency-shifted replica in a ZnGeP2 crystal. Soliton-effect fluoride fiber sources operating in the mid-infrared for driving DFG conversion to LWIR enable higher pulse energies than with near-infrared sources, while maintaining relative simplicity and compactness, relevant for spectroscopy and other applications in LWIR.
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31
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Mainz RE, Rossi GM, Scheiba F, Silva-Toledo MA, Yang Y, Cirmi G, Kärtner FX. Parametric waveform synthesis: a scalable approach to generate sub-cycle optical transients. OPTICS EXPRESS 2023; 31:11363-11394. [PMID: 37155774 DOI: 10.1364/oe.485543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
The availability of electromagnetic pulses with controllable field waveform and extremely short duration, even below a single optical cycle, is imperative to fully harness strong-field processes and to gain insight into ultrafast light-driven mechanisms occurring in the attosecond time-domain. The recently demonstrated parametric waveform synthesis (PWS) introduces an energy-, power- and spectrum-scalable method to generate non-sinusoidal sub-cycle optical waveforms by coherently combining different phase-stable pulses attained via optical parametric amplifiers. Significant technological developments have been made to overcome the stability issues related to PWS and to obtain an effective and reliable waveform control system. Here we present the main ingredients enabling PWS technology. The design choices concerning the optical, mechanical and electronic setups are justified by analytical/numerical modeling and benchmarked by experimental observations. In its present incarnation, PWS technology enables the generation of field-controllable mJ-level few-femtosecond pulses spanning the visible to infrared range.
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32
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Theoretical Simulation of the High–Order Harmonic Generated from Neon Atom Irradiated by the Intense Laser Pulse. Symmetry (Basel) 2023. [DOI: 10.3390/sym15030636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Based on the strong field approximation theory and numerical solution of Maxwell’s propagation equations, the high–order harmonic is generated from a neon (Ne) atom irradiated by a high–intensity laser pulse whose central wavelength is 800 nm. In the harmonic spectrum, it is found that in addition to the odd harmonics of the driving laser, a new frequency peak appeared. By examining the time–dependent behavior of the driving laser, it is found that the symmetry of the laser field is broken. We demonstrated that these new spectrum peaks are caused by the intensity reduction and frequency blue shift of the high–intensity laser during propagation. Our results reveal that it is feasible to modulate the harmonics of the specific energy to produce high–intensity harmonic emission by changing the gas density and the position of the gas medium interacting with the laser pulse.
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33
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Zhang S, Su Z, Menoni CS, Chowdhury EA. Influence of defects on the femtosecond laser damage resistance of multilayer dielectric gratings. OPTICS LETTERS 2023; 48:1212-1215. [PMID: 36857251 DOI: 10.1364/ol.483581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 01/27/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Multilayer dielectric (MLD) gratings with high diffraction efficiency and a high laser-induced damage (LID) threshold for pulse compressors are key to scaling the peak and average power of chirped pulse amplification lasers. However, surface defects introduced by manufacturing, storage, and handling processes can reduce the LID resistance of MLD gratings and impact the laser output. The underlying mechanisms of such defect-initiated LID remain unclear, especially in the femtosecond regime. In this Letter, we model dynamic processes in interactions of a 20-fs near-infrared (NIR) laser pulse and a MLD grating design in the presence of cylindrically symmetrical nodules and particle contaminants and cracks at the surface. Utilizing a dynamic model based on a 2D finite difference in time domain (FDTD) field solver coupled with photoionization, electron collision, and refractive index modification, we study the simulation results for the damage site distribution initiated by defects of various types and sizes and its impact on the LID threshold of the grating design.
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34
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Ding Y, Liu J, Gu X, Yuan P, Ma J. Mid-infrared quasi-parametric chirped-pulse amplification based on Sm:LGN crystals. OPTICS EXPRESS 2023; 31:8864-8874. [PMID: 36859992 DOI: 10.1364/oe.484443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
We numerically demonstrate highly efficient mid-infrared quasi-parametric chirped-pulse amplification (QPCPA) based on a recently developed Sm3+-doped La3Ga5.5Nb0.5O14 (Sm:LGN) crystal. At pump wavelength around 1 µm, the broadband absorption of Sm3+ on idler pulses can enable QPCPA for femtosecond signal pulses centered at 3.5 or 5 µm, with a conversion efficiency approaching the quantum limit. Due to suppression of back conversion, such mid-infrared QPCPA exhibits robustness against phase-mismatch and pump-intensity variation. The Sm:LGN-based QPCPA will provide an efficient approach for converting currently well-developed intense laser pulses at 1 µm to mid-infrared ultrashort pulses.
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35
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Hui D, Alqattan H, Zhang S, Pervak V, Chowdhury E, Hassan MT. Ultrafast optical switching and data encoding on synthesized light fields. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadf1015. [PMID: 36812316 PMCID: PMC9946343 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adf1015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2022] [Accepted: 01/27/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Modern electronics are founded on switching the electrical signal by radio frequency electromagnetic fields on the nanosecond time scale, limiting the information processing to the gigahertz speed. Recently, optical switches have been demonstrated using terahertz and ultrafast laser pulses to control the electrical signal and enhance the switching speed to the picosecond and a few hundred femtoseconds time scale. Here, we exploit the reflectivity modulation of the fused silica dielectric system in a strong light field to demonstrate the optical switching (ON/OFF) with attosecond time resolution. Moreover, we present the capability of controlling the optical switching signal with complex synthesized fields of ultrashort laser pulses for data binary encoding. This work paves the way for establishing optical switches and light-based electronics with petahertz speeds, several orders of magnitude faster than the current semiconductor-based electronics, opening a new realm in information technology, optical communications, and photonic processor technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dandan Hui
- Department of Physics, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Husain Alqattan
- Department of Physics, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Simin Zhang
- Department of Material Science and Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Vladimir Pervak
- Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Am Coulombwall 1, 85748 Garching, Germany
| | - Enam Chowdhury
- Department of Material Science and Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
- Department of Physics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
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36
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Zinchenko KS, Ardana-Lamas F, Lanfaloni VU, Luu TT, Pertot Y, Huppert M, Wörner HJ. Apparatus for attosecond transient-absorption spectroscopy in the water-window soft-X-ray region. Sci Rep 2023; 13:3059. [PMID: 36810355 PMCID: PMC9944907 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-29089-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2022] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2023] Open
Abstract
We present an apparatus for attosecond transient-absorption spectroscopy (ATAS) featuring soft-X-ray (SXR) supercontinua that extend beyond 450 eV. This instrument combines an attosecond table-top high-harmonic light source with mid-infrared (mid-IR) pulses, both driven by 1.7-1.9 mJ, sub-11 fs pulses centered at 1.76 [Formula: see text]m. A remarkably low timing jitter of [Formula: see text] 20 as is achieved through active stabilization of the pump and probe arms of the instrument. A temporal resolution of better than 400 as is demonstrated through ATAS measurements at the argon L[Formula: see text]-edges. A spectral resolving power of 1490 is demonstrated through simultaneous absorption measurements at the sulfur L[Formula: see text]- and carbon K-edges of OCS. Coupled with its high SXR photon flux, this instrument paves the way to attosecond time-resolved spectroscopy of organic molecules in the gas phase or in aqueous solutions, as well as thin films of advanced materials. Such measurements will advance the studies of complex systems to the electronic time scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristina S. Zinchenko
- grid.5801.c0000 0001 2156 2780Laboratory of Physical Chemistry, ETH Zürich, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Fernando Ardana-Lamas
- Laboratory of Physical Chemistry, ETH Zürich, 8093, Zurich, Switzerland. .,European XFEL GmbH, 22869, Schenefeld, Germany.
| | - Valentina Utrio Lanfaloni
- grid.5801.c0000 0001 2156 2780Laboratory of Physical Chemistry, ETH Zürich, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Tran Trung Luu
- grid.5801.c0000 0001 2156 2780Laboratory of Physical Chemistry, ETH Zürich, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland ,grid.194645.b0000000121742757Department of Physics, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, SAR Hong Kong, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yoann Pertot
- grid.5801.c0000 0001 2156 2780Laboratory of Physical Chemistry, ETH Zürich, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Martin Huppert
- grid.5801.c0000 0001 2156 2780Laboratory of Physical Chemistry, ETH Zürich, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland ,grid.5991.40000 0001 1090 7501Paul Scherrer Institut, PSI, 5232 Villigen, Switzerland
| | - Hans Jakob Wörner
- grid.5801.c0000 0001 2156 2780Laboratory of Physical Chemistry, ETH Zürich, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland
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37
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Ly O. Noncollinear antiferromagnetic textures driven high-harmonic generation from magnetic dynamics in the absence of spin-orbit coupling. JOURNAL OF PHYSICS. CONDENSED MATTER : AN INSTITUTE OF PHYSICS JOURNAL 2023; 35:125802. [PMID: 36669207 DOI: 10.1088/1361-648x/acb523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2022] [Accepted: 01/20/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
We demonstrate the generation of high order harmonics in carrier pumping from precessing ferromagnetic or antiferromagnetic orders, excited via magnetic resonance, in the presence of topological antiferromagnetic textures. This results in an enhancement of the carrier dynamics by orders of magnitude, enabling for an emission deep in the THz frequency range. Interestingly, the generation process occurs in an intrinsic manner, and is solely governed by the interplay between the s-d exchange coupling underlying the noncollinear antiferromagnetic order and the dynamical s-d exchange constant of the magnetic drive. Therefore, the relativistic spin-orbit interaction is not required for the emergence of high harmonics in the pumped currents. Accordingly, the noncollinear topological antiferromagnetic order is presented as an alternative to spin-orbit interaction for the purpose of harnessing high harmonic emission in carrier pumping. Furthermore, we demonstrate the emergence of high harmonics from random magnetic impurities. This suggests the universality of the magnetically induced high harmonic emission in the presence of real and/or momentum space noncollinear textures. Our proposal initiates a tantalizing prospect for the utilization of topological textures in the context of the highly active domains of ultrafast spintronics and THz emission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ousmane Ly
- Physical Science and Engineering Division (PSE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
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38
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Song Q, Zhang N, Liu J, Qian X, Zhang C, Xue Y, Zhao Y, Xu X, Lebbou K, Xu J. Efficient continuous wave and broad tunable lasers with the Tm:GdScO 3 crystal. OPTICS LETTERS 2023; 48:640-643. [PMID: 36723552 DOI: 10.1364/ol.481997] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2022] [Accepted: 12/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The spectroscopic properties and tunable laser performances of the orthorhombic perovskite Tm:GdScO3 crystal grown by the Czochralski method are comparatively studied for polarization along different crystallographic axes. The polarized emission spectrum of Tm:GdScO3 along the b-axis exhibits, to the best of our knowledge, the broadest bandwidth among all the single Tm3+-doped bulk gain media, indicating the strong inhomogeneous line broadening of Tm3+ ions in GdScO3 and thus leads to a broad and smooth gain spectrum. Tunable laser operation with a tuning range as broad as 321 nm from 1824 nm to 2145 nm is achieved, which indicates its potential for few-optical-cycle pulse generation in the 2-µm spectral range.
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39
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Dorner-Kirchner M, Shumakova V, Coccia G, Kaksis E, Schmidt BE, Pervak V, Pugzlys A, Baltuška A, Kitzler-Zeiler M, Carpeggiani PA. HHG at the Carbon K-Edge Directly Driven by SRS Red-Shifted Pulses from an Ytterbium Amplifier. ACS PHOTONICS 2023; 10:84-91. [PMID: 36691427 PMCID: PMC9853858 DOI: 10.1021/acsphotonics.2c01021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
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.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Valentina Shumakova
- Photonics
Institute, Technische Universität
Wien, A-1040 Vienna, Austria
- Christian
Doppler Laboratory for Mid-IR Spectroscopy and Semiconductor Optics, University of Vienna, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Giulio Coccia
- Photonics
Institute, Technische Universität
Wien, A-1040 Vienna, Austria
- Istituto
di Fotonica e Nanotecnologie-Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (IFN-CNR)
and Dipartimento di Fisica-Politecnico di Milano, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, Milano 20133, Italy
| | - Edgar Kaksis
- Photonics
Institute, Technische Universität
Wien, A-1040 Vienna, Austria
| | - Bruno E. Schmidt
- few-Cycle
Inc., 1650 Blvd. Lionel
Boulet, J3X 1P7, Varennes, QC Canada
| | - Vladimir Pervak
- Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität
München, Department of Physics, Am Coulombwall 1, 85748 Garching, Germany
- UltraFast
Innovations GmbH, Am
Coulombwall 1, 85748 Garching, Germany
| | - Audrius Pugzlys
- Photonics
Institute, Technische Universität
Wien, A-1040 Vienna, Austria
- Center
for Physical Sciences and Technology, Savanoriu Ave. 231, LT-02300, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Andrius Baltuška
- Photonics
Institute, Technische Universität
Wien, A-1040 Vienna, Austria
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40
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Shang J, Mei C, Zhao S, Liu Y, Yang K, Wang C, Li T, Feng T. 2-µm nonlinear post-compression for generating ∼100-MHz few-cycle laser pulses with watt-level average power. OPTICS EXPRESS 2023; 31:1181-1189. [PMID: 36785158 DOI: 10.1364/oe.479039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2022] [Accepted: 12/18/2022] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
We firstly report a high pulse repetition rate (101.4 MHz) nonlinear post-compression based on the normal dispersion fiber (NDF) operating in 2-µm wavelength region. With only one-stage NDF-based nonlinear pulse compressor, the 2-µm ultrafast laser pulses are compressed from ∼460 fs down to 70 fs, corresponding to ∼10.4 optical oscillation cycle. With two-stage nonlinear pulse compressor, the input ultrafast laser pulses are further compressed to 28.3 fs (∼4.3 optical oscillation cycle). In each case, the average power of the compressed 2-µm laser pulses exceeds 1 W, which is believed to be the highest average power never achieved at ∼100-MHz pulse repetition rate. The efficiencies of the one-stage and two-stage nonlinear pulse compressors are 64% and 47% respectively.
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41
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Fu Z, Chen Y, Peng S, Zhu B, Li B, Martín-Hernández R, Fan G, Wang Y, Hernández-García C, Jin C, Murnane M, Kapteyn H, Tao Z. Extension of the bright high-harmonic photon energy range via nonadiabatic critical phase matching. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eadd7482. [PMID: 36563146 PMCID: PMC9788764 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.add7482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The concept of critical ionization fraction has been essential for high-harmonic generation, because it dictates the maximum driving laser intensity while preserving the phase matching of harmonics. In this work, we reveal a second, nonadiabatic critical ionization fraction, which substantially extends the phase-matched harmonic energy, arising because of the strong reshaping of the intense laser field in a gas plasma. We validate this understanding through a systematic comparison between experiment and theory for a wide range of laser conditions. In particular, the properties of the high-harmonic spectrum versus the laser intensity undergoes three distinctive scenarios: (i) coincidence with the single-atom cutoff, (ii) strong spectral extension, and (iii) spectral energy saturation. We present an analytical model that predicts the spectral extension and reveals the increasing importance of the nonadiabatic effects for mid-infrared lasers. These findings are important for the development of high-brightness soft x-ray sources for applications in spectroscopy and imaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zongyuan Fu
- State Key Laboratory of Surface Physics, Key Laboratory of Micro and Nano Photonic Structures (MOE), and Department of Physics, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Yudong Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Surface Physics, Key Laboratory of Micro and Nano Photonic Structures (MOE), and Department of Physics, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Sainan Peng
- State Key Laboratory of Surface Physics, Key Laboratory of Micro and Nano Photonic Structures (MOE), and Department of Physics, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Bingbing Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Surface Physics, Key Laboratory of Micro and Nano Photonic Structures (MOE), and Department of Physics, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Baochang Li
- Department of Applied Physics, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210094, China
| | - Rodrigo Martín-Hernández
- Grupo de Investigación en Aplicaciones del Láser y Fotónica, Departamento de Física Aplicada, Universidad de Salamanca, E- 37008 Salamanca, Spain
| | - Guangyu Fan
- Shanghai Key Lab of Modern Optical System, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai 200093, China
- The Hamburg Centre for Ultrafast Imaging CUI, Universität Hamburg, 149 Luruper Chaussee, 22761 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Yihua Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Surface Physics, Key Laboratory of Micro and Nano Photonic Structures (MOE), and Department of Physics, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
- Shanghai Research Center for Quantum Sciences, Shanghai 201315, China
| | - Carlos Hernández-García
- Grupo de Investigación en Aplicaciones del Láser y Fotónica, Departamento de Física Aplicada, Universidad de Salamanca, E- 37008 Salamanca, Spain
| | - Cheng Jin
- Department of Applied Physics, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210094, China
- MIIT Key Laboratory of Semiconductor Microstructure and Quantum Sensing, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210094, China
| | - Margaret Murnane
- Department of Physics and JILA, University of Colorado and NIST, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
| | - Henry Kapteyn
- Department of Physics and JILA, University of Colorado and NIST, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
| | - Zhensheng Tao
- State Key Laboratory of Surface Physics, Key Laboratory of Micro and Nano Photonic Structures (MOE), and Department of Physics, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
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42
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Janulewicz KA, Węgrzyński Ł, Fok T, Bartnik A, Fiedorowicz H, Skruszewicz S, Wünsche M, Eckner E, Fuchs S, Reinhard J, Abel JJ, Wiesner F, Paulus GG, Rödel C, Kim CM, Wachulak PW. Broadband soft X-ray source from a clustered gas target dedicated to high-resolution XCT and X-ray absorption spectroscopy. OPTICS EXPRESS 2022; 30:47867-47878. [PMID: 36558705 DOI: 10.1364/oe.477726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The development of the broad-bandwidth photon sources emitting in the soft X-ray range has attracted great attention for a long time due to the possible applications in high-resolution spectroscopy, nano-metrology, and material sciences. A high photon flux accompanied by a broad, smooth spectrum is favored for the applications such as near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS), extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS), or XUV/X-ray coherence tomography (XCT). So far, either large-scale facilities or technologically challenging systems providing only limited photon flux in a single shot dominate the suitable sources. Here, we present a soft, broad-band (1.5 nm - 10.7 nm) soft X-ray source. The source is based on the interaction of very intense laser pulses with a target formed by a cluster mixture. A photon yield of 2.4 × 1014 photons/pulse into 4π (full space) was achieved with a medium containing Xe clusters of moderate-size mixed with a substantial amount of extremely large ones. It is shown that such a cluster mixture enhances the photon yield in the soft X-ray range by roughly one order of magnitude. The size of the resulting source is not beneficial (≤500 µm but this deficit is compensated by a specific spectral structure of its emission fulfilling the specific needs of the spectroscopic (broad spectrum and high signal dynamics) and metrological applications (broad and smoothed spectrum enabling a sub-nanometer resolution limit for XCT).
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43
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Fu W, Lai YH, Li W. Comparative study of medium length-dependent high-harmonic generation from metal ions. OPTICS EXPRESS 2022; 30:47315-47325. [PMID: 36558662 DOI: 10.1364/oe.475483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2022] [Accepted: 11/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
We present an experimental study on the high-harmonic yields from the ions in the laser-ablated plumes of various metal targets (W, Mo, Cr, Cu, Ni, Fe, Ag and Mg) with the purpose of comparing their ion density and single-atom response. The harmonic yields as a function of medium length are measured and the results are fitted against a theoretical model to extract the coherence length, absorption length and strength single-atom response (in arbitrary units) of different harmonic orders for each target. It is found that the coherence lengths decrease monotonically as a function of harmonic order for all targets. Ion density of the generation media are estimated by the trend of the coherence length as a function of harmonic order. Qualitatively, targets with lower melting temperatures seem to produce laser-ablated plumes of higher ion density, vice versa. Also, the strength of the single-atom response of the metal ion species with only one electron in the outermost subshell are weak compared with the other targets considered in this study.
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44
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Stremoukhov SY. Quasi-Phase Amplification of High-Order Harmonic Generation As a Method for Producing Seed Radiation for X-Ray Free-Electron Lasers. CRYSTALLOGR REP+ 2022. [DOI: 10.1134/s1063774522060256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
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45
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Observation of site-selective chemical bond changes via ultrafast chemical shifts. Nat Commun 2022; 13:7170. [PMID: 36418902 PMCID: PMC9684563 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-34670-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2022] [Accepted: 11/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The concomitant motion of electrons and nuclei on the femtosecond time scale marks the fate of chemical and biological processes. Here we demonstrate the ability to initiate and track the ultrafast electron rearrangement and chemical bond breaking site-specifically in real time for the carbon monoxide diatomic molecule. We employ a local resonant x-ray pump at the oxygen atom and probe the chemical shifts of the carbon core-electron binding energy. We observe charge redistribution accompanying core-excitation followed by Auger decay, eventually leading to dissociation and hole trapping at one site of the molecule. The presented technique is general in nature with sensitivity to chemical environment changes including transient electronic excited state dynamics. This work provides a route to investigate energy and charge transport processes in more complex systems by tracking selective chemical bond changes on their natural timescale.
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46
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Lenski M, Heuermann T, Gebhardt M, Wang Z, Gaida C, Jauregui C, Limpert J. Inband-pumped, high-power thulium-doped fiber amplifiers for an ultrafast pulsed operation. OPTICS EXPRESS 2022; 30:44270-44282. [PMID: 36523105 DOI: 10.1364/oe.476160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2022] [Accepted: 10/16/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
We investigate the influence of the pump wavelength on the high-power amplification of large-mode area, thulium-doped fibers which are suitable for an ultrashort pulsed operation in the 2 µm wavelength region. By pumping a standard, commercially available photonic crystal fiber in an amplifier configuration at 1692 nm, a slope efficiency of 80 % at an average output power of 60 W could be shown. With the help of simulations we investigate the effect of cross-relaxations on the efficiency and the thermal behavior. We extend our investigations to a rod-type, large-pitch fiber with very large mode area, which is exceptionally suited for high-energy ultrafast operation. Pumping at 1692 nm leads to a slope efficiency of 74 % with a average output power of 67 W, instead of the 38 % slope efficiency obtained when pumping at 793 nm. These results pave the way to highly efficient 2 µm fiber-based CPA systems.
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47
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Pushkin A, Potemkin F. High-gain broadband laser amplification of mid-IR pulses in Fe:CdSe crystal at 5 μm with millijoule output energy and multigigawatt peak power. OPTICS LETTERS 2022; 47:5762-5765. [PMID: 37219097 DOI: 10.1364/ol.472689] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
We report on a first of its kind, to our knowledge broadband amplification in a Fe:CdSe single crystal in the mid-IR beyond 5 µm. The experimentally measured gain properties demonstrate saturation fluence close to 13 mJ/cm2 and support the bandwidth up to 320 nm (full width at half maximum). Such properties allow the energy of the seeding mid-IR laser pulse, generated by an optical parametric amplifier, to be pushed up to more than 1 mJ. Dispersion management with bulk stretcher and prism compressor enables 5-µm laser pulses of 134-fs duration, providing access to multigigawatt peak power. Ultrafast laser amplifiers based on a family of Fe-doped chalcogenides open the route for wavelength tuning together with energy scaling of mid-IR laser pulses that are strongly demanded for the areas of spectroscopy, laser-matter interaction, and attoscience.
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48
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Tian K, Wang W, Li C, Wan Z, Hu B, He L, Xiang M, Yao J, Wu H, Liang H. Ultrabroad (3.7-17 µm) tunable femtosecond optical parametric amplifier based on BaGa 4Se 7 crystal. OPTICS LETTERS 2022; 47:5973-5976. [PMID: 37219150 DOI: 10.1364/ol.477361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2022] [Accepted: 10/22/2022] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
We demonstrate the first (to the best of our knowledge) tunable femtosecond (fs) mid-infrared (MIR) optical parametric amplifier (OPA) based on BaGa4Se7 (BGSe) crystal with an ultra-broadband spectral range. Benefiting from the broad transparency range, high nonlinearity, and relatively large bandgap of BGSe, the MIR OPA pumped at 1030 nm with a repetition of 50 kHz has an output spectrum that is tunable across an extremely wide spectral range spanning from 3.7 to 17 µm. The maximum output power of the MIR laser source is measured as 10 mW at a center wavelength of 16 µm, corresponding to a quantum conversion efficiency of 5%. Power scaling is straightforwardly achieved by using a stronger pump in BGSe with an available large aperture size. A pulse width of 290 fs centered at 16 µm is supported by the BGSe OPA. Our experimental result indicates that BGSe crystal could serve as a promising nonlinear crystal for fs MIR generation with an ultra-broadband tuning spectral range via parametric downconversion for applications such as MIR ultrafast spectroscopy.
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49
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Yao W, Wang Y, Tomilov S, Hoffmann M, Ahmed S, Liebald C, Rytz D, Peltz M, Wesemann V, Saraceno CJ. 8.7-W average power, in-band pumped femtosecond Ho:CALGO laser at 2.1 µm. OPTICS EXPRESS 2022; 30:41075-41083. [PMID: 36366592 DOI: 10.1364/oe.471341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2022] [Accepted: 09/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
We report on an in-band pumped SESAM mode-locked Ho:CALGO bulk laser with a record-high average power of 8.7 W and an optical-to-optical efficiency of 38.2% at a central wavelength of 2.1 µm. At this power level, the bulk laser generates pulses with a duration of 369 fs at an 84.4-MHz repetition rate, corresponding to a pulse energy of 103 nJ and a peak power of 246 kW. To the best of our knowledge, this is the highest average power and pulse energy directly generated from a mode-locked bulk laser in the 2-3 µm wavelength region. Our current results indicate that Ho:CALGO is a competitive candidate for average power scaling of 2-µm femtosecond lasers.
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Yu X, Chu H, Zha F, Pan H, Zhao S, Pan Z, Li D. Watt-level diode-pumped Tm:YVO 4 laser at 2.3 µm. OPTICS LETTERS 2022; 47:5501-5504. [PMID: 37219254 DOI: 10.1364/ol.474891] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2022] [Accepted: 09/26/2022] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
In this Letter, a watt-level laser diode (LD)-pumped ∼2.3-µm (on the 3H4→3H5 quasi-four-level transition) laser is reported based on a 1.5 at.% a-cut Tm:YVO4 crystal. The maximum continuous wave (CW) output power obtained is 1.89 W and 1.11 W with the maximum slope efficiency of 13.6% and 7.3% (versus the absorbed pump power) for the 1% and 0.5% transmittance of the output coupler, respectively. To the best of our knowledge, the CW output power of 1.89 W we obtained is the highest CW output power amongst the LD-pumped ∼2.3-µm Tm3+-doped lasers.
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