Spatial fingerprint of quantum path interferences in high order harmonic generation

Spectral splitting in phase mismatched harmonics

Spectral splitting of high harmonic radiation is observed when a gas target is irradiated with a high-energy laser pulse, having an extreme amount of frequency chirp. The phenomenon, which may be observed only by using a multi-TW laser system, originates from the temporal evolution of the phase-matching conditions. We illustrate how these conditions are mapped to the spectral domain, and present experimental evidence which is validated by our model.

Resolving Quantum Interference Black Box through Attosecond Photoionization Spectroscopy

Multiphoton light-matter interactions invoke a so-called "black box" in which the experimental observations contain the quantum interference between multiple pathways. Here, we employ polarization-controlled attosecond photoelectron metrology with a partial wave manipulator to deduce the pathway interference within this quantum 'black box" for the two-photon ionization of neon atoms. The angle-dependent and attosecond time-resolved photoelectron spectra are measured across a broad energy range. Two-photon phase shifts for each partial wave are reconstructed through the comprehensive analysis of these photoelectron spectra. We resolve the quantum interference between the degenerate p→d→p and p→s→p two-photon ionization pathways, in agreement with our theoretical simulations. Our approach thus provides an attosecond time-resolved microscope to look inside the "black box" of pathway interference in ultrafast dynamics of atoms, molecules, and condensed matter.

Divergence and efficiency optimization in polarization-controlled two-color high-harmonic generation

Improving the brightness of high-harmonic generation (HHG) sources is one of the major goals for next-generation ultrafast, imaging and metrology applications in the extreme-ultraviolet spectrum. Previous research efforts have demonstrated a plethora of techniques to increase the conversion efficiency of HHG. However, few studies so far have addressed how to simultaneously minimize the divergence and improve focusability, which all contribute to an increased brightness of the source. Here, we investigate how to improve both photon yield and divergence, which is directly linked to focusability, when adding the second harmonic to the fundamental driving field. We study the effects of the relative polarization in two-color HHG and compare the results to a one-color configuration. In a perpendicular two-color field, the relative phase between the two colors can be used to suppress or enhance recombination of either the long or the short trajectories. This allows to exert control over the divergence of the harmonics. In a parallel two-color field, the ionization rate is modified through the two-color phase, which selects trajectories during the ionization step. This enhances the total yield. We elaborate on the underlying mechanisms for parallel, perpendicular, and intermediate polarization angles, and confirm our experimental observations with simulations.

Enhanced XUV harmonics generation from diatomic gases using two orthogonally polarized laser fields

Enhanced high repetition rate coherent extreme ultraviolet (XUV) harmonics represent efficient probe of electron dynamics in atoms, molecules and solids. In this work, we used orthogonally-polarized two-color laser field to generate strong even and odd high order harmonics from molecular gas targets. The dynamics of odd and even harmonics from O2, and N2 gases were investigated by employing single- and two-color laser fields using the fundamental radiation and second harmonic of 1030 nm, 37 fs, 50 kHz pulses. The relative efficiencies of harmonics were analyzed as a function of the thickness of the barium borate crystal used for second harmonic generation. Defocusing-assisted phase matching conditions were achieved in N2 gas for different groups of XUV harmonics.

Spectrally resolved single-shot wavefront sensing of broadband high-harmonic sources

Wavefront sensors are an important tool to characterize coherent beams of extreme ultraviolet radiation. However, conventional Hartmann-type sensors do not allow for independent wavefront characterization of different spectral components that may be present in a beam, which limits their applicability for intrinsically broadband high-harmonic generation (HHG) sources. Here we introduce a wavefront sensor that measures the wavefronts of all the harmonics in a HHG beam in a single camera exposure. By replacing the mask apertures with transmission gratings at different orientations, we simultaneously detect harmonic wavefronts and spectra, and obtain sensitivity to spatiotemporal structure such as pulse front tilt as well. We demonstrate the capabilities of the sensor through a parallel measurement of the wavefronts of 9 harmonics in a wavelength range between 25 and 49 nm, with up to λ/32 precision.

Pressure optimization of high harmonic generation in a differentially pumped Ar or H₂ gas jet

We experimentally studied the dependence of high harmonic generation in argon and molecular hydrogen on pressure changes in a gas jet that cause variations of the phase matching conditions and absorption. The study was performed at a peak laser intensity of ∼1.5 × 10(14) W/cm(2). To enable measurements over a wide range of pressures, we employed differential pumping with an additional cell (∼20 cm(3) volume) enclosing the gas jet. By increasing the pressure in the gas jet up to a maximum of 1.5 bars with argon or 0.5 bars with hydrogen, we observed an increase in the high harmonic (HH) yield until an optimum pressure of 0.2 bars was reached for Ar, beyond which the output began decreasing. For H2, we observed an increase of the HH output up to the maximum pressure of 0.5 bars. This pressure-dependence study allowed us to achieve a tenfold enhancement in the high harmonic yield at the optimum pressure.

Complete spatial characterization of an optical wavefront using a variable-separation pinhole pair

We present a technique for measuring the transverse spatial properties of an optical wavefront. Intensity and phase profiles are recovered by analysis of a series of interference patterns produced by the combination of a scanning X-shaped slit and a static horizontal slit; the spatial coherence may be found from the same data. We demonstrate the technique by characterizing high harmonic radiation generated in a gas cell, however the method could be extended to a wide variety of light sources.

Space-time resolved simulation of femtosecond nonlinear light-matter interactions using a holistic quantum atomic model: application to near-threshold harmonics

We introduce a new computational approach for femtosecond pulse propagation in the transparency region of gases that permits full resolution in three space dimensions plus time while fully incorporating quantum coherent effects such as high-harmonic generation and strong-field ionization in a holistic fashion. This is achieved by utilizing a one-dimensional model atom with a delta-function potential which allows for a closed-form solution for the nonlinear optical response due to ground-state to continuum transitions. It side-steps evaluation of the wave function, and offers more than one hundred-fold reduction in computation time in comparison to direct solution of the atomic Schrödinger equation. To illustrate the capability of our new computational approach, we apply it to the example of near-threshold harmonic generation in Xenon, and we also present a qualitative comparison between our model and results from an in-house experiment on extreme ultraviolet generation in a femtosecond enhancement cavity.

Macroscopic control of quantum paths in high order harmonics by a weak second harmonic field

The phase matching of quantum paths in high-order harmonic generation is investigated in a two-color laser field. Our results show that the phase-matching properties of the short and long trajectories can be modulated effectively by adding a weak second harmonic field. This scheme can not only achieve the quantum path selection, but more importantly it can achieve on-axis phase matching for both of the two trajectories simultaneously. A bright interference pattern induced by the simultaneously phase-matched two trajectories can be observed by placing a near-field on-axis filter, which has great potential for experimentally characterizing the full single-atom dipole moment.

Spectrally resolved maker fringes in high-order harmonic generation

We investigate macroscopic interference effects in high-order harmonic generation using a Ti:sapphire laser operating at a 100 kHz repetition rate. The structure and behavior of spectral and spatial interference fringes are explained and analytically described by transient phase matching of the long electron trajectory contribution. Time-frequency mapping due to the temporal chirp of the harmonic emission allows us to observe Maker fringes directly in the spectral domain.

Controlling high harmonics generation by spatial shaping of high-energy femtosecond beam

We demonstrate controlled high-order harmonic generation in gas using high-energy femtosecond pulses (50 fs-50 mJ on target) by performing spatial shaping of the terrawatt fundamental laser beam. We have developed a two optical paths mirror that can withstand high power and shape the pump beam into a quasi-flat-top profile (super Gaussian) near focus. We observe clear signatures of the spatial shaping on the harmonic beam in terms of profile, divergence, level of signal, and spectrum. The harmonic generation in neon with a quasi-flat-top beam results in a broadband extreme UV beam with extremely low divergence (~340 μrad).