Influence of surface waves on plasma high-order harmonic generation

The influence of surface plasma waves on high-order harmonic generation from the interaction of intense lasers with overdense plasma is analyzed. It is shown that the surface waves lead to the emission of harmonics away from the optical axis, whereas the high-order on-axis harmonics are lowered in intensity. Our simulation results indicate that surface plasma wave generation plays a crucial role in surface high-order harmonic generation experiments. Furthermore, a novel surface plasma wave generation process different from the well-known two-surface wave decay is observed in the highly relativistic regime.     

Influence of circular aperture on high-order harmonic generation

The influence of circular aperture on the intensity of high-order harmonic generation (HHG) with intense femtosecond laser pulse was studied both experimentally and theoretically. The intensity variety of HHG with the diameter of circular aperture was observed in pulsed Ar gas. The result was discussed and interpreted in terms of the theory of Hankel transform. It is found that using the Gaussian beam truncated by an aperture could enhance the conversion efficiency of HHG at certain conditions.     

Atomic high-order harmonic generation from a circularly polarized laser pulse

We demonstrate theoretically that the high-order harmonic of an atom can be generated by a circularly polarized laser pulse.The harmonic spectrum shows a clear cutoff with an energy Ip + 2Up.In particular,the high-order harmonic generation comes from the multiple recombination of the ionized electron with non-zero initial velocity.These results are verified by the classical model theory and the time-frequency analysis of a harmonic spectrum.     

等离子体光栅靶的表面粗糙度对高次谐波产生的影响

极紫外光和软X射线由于其波长和脉冲持续时间极短,可用于超快物理过程和物质微观结构的探测.最近几年,研究人员发现激光和等离子体相互作用可以产生持续时间极短(阿秒)且相干性较好的高次谐波辐射,其波长可接近甚至达到水窗波段.然而,实验研究指出,理论上应出现的一些谐波在实验中并没有出现.本文针对超短超强激光与非理想条件下的等离子体光栅靶相互作用产生高次谐波的物理过程进行了理论分析和粒子模拟.研究结果表明,等离子体光栅的周期性结构对于高次谐波的频谱和辐射角分布存在显著调制效果.光栅靶表面粗糙度直接影响光栅的光学调制效果,改变高次谐波的频谱分布和辐射角分布.理想光栅条件下,满足光栅匹配条件的特定阶数谐波明显获得增强,且辐射张角集中在平行靶面的方向.靶表面粗糙度的出现,导致光栅匹配条件失效,高次谐波能量向各阶分散且辐射张角逐渐偏离靶表面方向.研究结果较好地解释了实验中观测到的谐波频谱分布,为进一步的研究提供了一定参考.     

Direct observation of laser filamentation in high-order harmonic generation

We investigate the spatial evolution of a laser pulse used to generate high-order harmonics (orders ranging from 45 to 91) in a semi-infinite helium-filled gas cell. The 5 mJ, 30 fs laser pulses experience elongated focusing with two distinct waists when focused with f/125 optics in 80 Torr of helium. Extended phase matching for the generation of harmonics occurs in the region between the double foci of the laser, where the laser beam changes from diverging to converging.     

Optimization of multi-color laser waveform for high-order harmonic generation

With the development of laser technologies,multi-color light-field synthesis with complete amplitude and phase control would make it possible to generate arbitrary optical waveforms.A practical optimization algorithm is needed to generate such a waveform in order to control strong-field processes.We review some recent theoretical works of the optimization of amplitudes and phases of multi-color lasers to modify the single-atom high-order harmonic generation based on genetic algorithm.By choosing different fitness criteria,we demonstrate that:(i) harmonic yields can be enhanced by 10 to 100 times,(ii) harmonic cutoff energy can be substantially extended,(iii) specific harmonic orders can be selectively enhanced,and(iv) single attosecond pulses can be efficiently generated.The possibility of optimizing macroscopic conditions for the improved phase matching and low divergence of high harmonics is also discussed.The waveform control and optimization are expected to be new drivers for the next wave of breakthrough in the strong-field physics in the coming years.     

Control of high-order harmonic generation with two-colour laser field

We numerically investigate the high-order harmonic generation with two-colour optical field,taking into considera-tion the propagation effects.Some harmonics can be dramatically enhanced at a certain delay between the fundamental pulse and its second harmonics.Choice of the enhanced harmonics can be realised by changing the time delay between the two laser pulses.     

Bright multi-keV harmonic generation from relativistically oscillating plasma surfaces

The first evidence of x-ray harmonic radiation extending to 3.3 A, 3.8 keV (order n>3200) from petawatt class laser-solid interactions is presented, exhibiting relativistic limit efficiency scaling (eta approximately n{-2.5}-n{-3}) at multi-keV energies. This scaling holds up to a maximum order, n{RO} approximately 8{1/2}gamma;{3}, where gamma is the relativistic Lorentz factor, above which the first evidence of an intensity dependent efficiency rollover is observed. The coherent nature of the generated harmonics is demonstrated by the highly directional beamed emission, which for photon energy hnu>1 keV is found to be into a cone angle approximately 4 degrees , significantly less than that of the incident laser cone (20 degrees ).     

高次谐波辐射光子的能量-激光相位关系研究

原子在强激光电场中高次谐波辐射的理论与实验研究是当今科学前沿之一.利用量子力学理论和鞍点方法,细致地研究了高次谐波辐射光子的能量与激光相位的关系.对于时间宽度无限长激光,在一个激光周期内特定相位处产生的高阶辐射(X射线)有特定的能量.能量分布在7180°处成峰,有高斯形函数的对称形状.给出了这种分布的参数化公式.对于不同宽度的飞秒激光,能量分布的成峰位置、最大值和带宽等参数会发生变化.计算表明,三个振荡周期(半高宽)的飞秒激光,当载波-包络相位为175°和105°时,可以分别得到纯净的阿秒单脉冲和双脉 关键词： 超短脉冲激光 高次谐波产生 鞍点方法 能量相位关系     

Efficient high-order harmonic generation in a two-color laser field

We report efficient high-order harmonic generation achieved using a two-color laser field. By inserting a second-harmonic generation crystal in the path of a converging laser pulse, the overall efficiency for high-harmonic generation was enhanced by more than an order of magnitude. In addition, even-order harmonics were also generated. The 2(2n+1)th -order harmonics were very strong and, in particular, the 38th harmonic (21.6 nm), obtained with a single laser shot of 2 mJ, saturated the X-ray charge-coupled device (CCD) of an extreme-ultraviolet spectrometer even with an Al filter of 1.5 m thickness installed in front of the CCD. PACS 42.65.Ky; 32.80.-t; 42.65.Re     

High-order harmonic generation from solid surfaces in intense laser fields

We give a Floquet analysis of high-order harmonic generation from a solid surface interacting with intense laser fields. A general theoretical algorithm, within a three-dimensional quasi-free electron model, is presented. It takes account of the effective masses of the electron both within and outside the solid and treats both reflected and refracted laser fields. The high-order harmonic spectrum is obtained from the off-diagonal photon components of the expectation value of the time-dependent current operator. We present the formation of a plateau, well known in the atomic case, in the spectrum of the high-order harmonic radiation, which arises from the evanescent part of the electron wave function at the surface.     

The study of high-order harmonic generation using ellipticity-modulated laser pulse

The high-order harmonic generation using ellipticity-modulated laser field is investigated experimentally and theoretically. The laser field with time-varying ellipticity is obtained using two quarter wave plates. The harmonic spectral intensity peaks appear periodic for the localization induced by the ellipticity modulation of the laser pulse. We calculate the single-atom response to the driving laser field using the Lewenstein model and compare the calculated and measured harmonic spectra generated with ellipticity-modulated driving laser pulses. The theoretical simulation and the experiment results agree well with each other.     

Carrier-envelope phase effects of over-saturated few-cycle laser pulses on high-order harmonic generation

We investigate theoretically the high-order harmonic generation driven by few-cycle laser pulses with intensities above the saturated intensity using the Lewenstein model. It is found that the carrier-envelope phase of the laser pulse has great influences on the coherence of the high-order harmonic spectrum in the plateau region when driven by a relatively weaker driver field in the oversaturated regime. While for a much higher intensity the coherence of the high-order harmonic spectrum is almost independent on the carrier-envelope phase.     

激光驱动晶体发射高次谐波的特性研究

通过数值模拟激光驱动下电子在周期性势阱中的动力学行为, 研究了晶体在激光场中发射高次谐波的特性. 研究发现在一定的激光波长和光强驱动下, 晶体发射的谐波谱会呈现出双平台结构, 经分析后得知第一个平台主要来自于最低导带与价带间的电流(电子-空穴对复合), 第二个平台主要来源于较高导带与价带间的电流(电子-空穴对复合), 且两个平台的截止位置处的能量都与激光场的振幅呈线性关系. 在少周期激光驱动下, 晶体谐波第二平台的截止位置与激光的载波相位呈单调变化, 由此我们提出可以利用晶体谐波第二平台的截止位置来确定少周期激光的载波相位. 进一步研究发现, 在啁啾激光驱动下, 晶体发射谐波谱的第二平台有较大变化, 第二平台的发射效率会随啁啾参数而改变, 能够通过改变啁啾激光场来提高晶体谐波第二平台的发射效率.     

High harmonic generation in a laser plasma

The results of investigation of high harmonics of radiation of a Ti:sapphire laser propagating through a laser plasma generated on the surface of different targets are presented. For most of the targets, the intensity distribution of the high harmonics generated is found to form a plateaulike pattern similar to that observed in the case of gas jets. The generation of high harmonics (up to the 65th harmonic, λ = 12.24 nm) is caused by the interaction of femtosecond laser radiation with ions. The conversion efficiency in the plateau region varies from 10^?7 to 8 × 10^?5 depending on the target. The main restriction on the conversion efficiency and the peak intensity of the harmonics generated is caused by the self-defocusing of the femtosecond radiation due to free charge carriers formed as a result of tunnel ionization.     

Comment on "direct observation of laser filamentation in high-order harmonic generation"

We argue for a different physical interpretation of the results given in the recent Letter by Painter et al. [Opt. Lett.31, 3471 (2006)] in which an elongated Ti:saphire beam with two distinct waists is considered as direct evidence of laser filamentation. As the pulse power is well below the critical power for self-focusing, the authors pleaded for new examination of the n(2) value for He. A three-dimensional numerical modeling, using the published n(2) value for He, reproduces very well the measured data and invalidates the filamentation hypothesis.     

强激光场中N2分子高次谐波的干涉效应

在强场近似下,利用Lewenstein模型研究了N2分子在强激光场中发射高次谐波的干涉效应,通过对N2分子产生的高次谐波和分子中单个原子产生高次谐波的比较,表明了干涉效应的存在. 得出随着高次谐波阶数的增加,干涉极小值会随着分子轴与激光偏振方向间夹角的增加而减小,在角度接近900附近时干涉效应消失,与两中心干涉模型预测的趋势一致. 通过分析高次谐波产生的机制和相位随取向角的变化,给出了干涉产生的原因.     

Ellipticity dependence of high-order harmonic generation from aligned molecules

We report ellipticity dependence of high-order harmonic generation (HHG) from aligned N2, O2, and CO2 molecules. Experimentally, we find that the ellipticity dependence is sensitive to molecular alignment and to the shape and symmetry of the valence orbitals. It is also found that the destructive interference in the recombination process affects the ellipticity dependence. Theoretically, we extend the original Lewenstein model to a more generalized model, which can be applicable to HHG from molecules, by introducing an electron acceleration parameter xi(theta) and by combining the molecular orbital method. The present observations are successfully explained by our model.     

高次谐波辐射发射特性研究

报告由不同脉冲宽度(半高宽,FWHM)和不同载波-包络相位(CEP,Φ)的激光产生的高次谐波辐射能量输出时间特性即发射特性的研究结果. 计算表明,由宽度为几个周期的激光产生的高次谐波辐射的截止能量明显低于由无限长脉冲宽度激光产生的截止能量ω_max=3.17U_p+I_p(其中ω_max为光子角频率,U_p和I_p分别为激光有质动力势和原子的电离能). 例如,由两周期(FWHM),Φ＝15°的激光产生的高次谐波辐射的截止能量为ω_max=2.90U_p+I_p,此时发射特性单脉冲(即分布单脉冲)具有最大的能量带宽0.86U_p. 脉冲中心位置的载波相位和时间宽度分别为0.94rad(弧度)和1.29rad. 而该激光脉冲在Φ＝-75°时能产生截止能量为ω_max=2.70U_p+I_p,最大能量带宽为0.70U_p的双分布脉冲,其中心位置分别为-0.58rad和2.43rad,宽度分别为1.22rad和1.33rad. 随着激光脉冲宽度的增加,分布单脉冲的能量带宽比时间宽度下降得更快. 对于一定宽度的激光脉冲,所产生的分布单脉冲的能量带宽和时间宽度的CEP依赖性显示出180°的周期结构. 利用这个有趣的特点,在实验上可以通过调节CEP来选择分布脉冲的能量参数,也可用来定位和控制阿秒脉冲的时间参数. 理论分析指出,只要选择合适的阿秒X射线能量带宽,CEP不稳定性对于光电子谱和测量结果的影响将大为降低,甚至在最大程度上消除这种影响. 这些研究结果不仅有助于在物理上深入了解高次谐波辐射的动力学过程,而且对于进一步在实验上优化和选择阿秒单脉冲和双脉冲具有重要的参考和指导意义. 关键词： 高次谐波产生 鞍点方法 谐波发射特性 分布脉冲     

超短脉冲谐波辐射过程中的量子路径分析

本文数值计算了脉宽为半个光学周期的超短脉冲在不同载波包络相位下的谐波波谱,通过比较谐波波谱截止频率与电子通过主要路径可获得的最大动能的差异,研究了超短脉冲谐波辐射过程中的量子路径。结果显示,超短脉冲谐波辐射过程中电子获得动能的量子路径偏离主要量子路径,而且该偏离效应受载波包络相位的影响。