Effects of pressure and gas-jet thickness on the generation of attosecond pulse

We investigate how the intensity and duration of an attosecond pulse generated from high-order harmonic generation are affected by the pressure and thickness of the gas jet by taking into account the macroscopic propagation of both fundamental and harmonic fields. Our simulations show that, limited by the propagation effects, especially the absorption of harmonics, the intensity of an attosecond pulse cannot be improved by just independently increasing the gas pressure or the medium length. On the other hand, due to good phase-matching conditions, the duration of a generated attosecond pulse can be improved by changing the gas pressure.     

Self-compression of attosecond high-order harmonic pulses

Self-compression of attosecond high-order harmonic pulses in the harmonic generation medium itself has been demonstrated. The attosecond pulses were generated in an argon-filled gas cell and compressed by exploiting the dispersion characteristics of argon. Since the harmonic generation medium itself was used as the compression medium, continuous chirp control was easily achieved by adjusting the gas pressure. The optimized attosecond pulse was also the most intense, and its duration of 206 as was very close to the transform-limited value of 200 as.     

双色光场驱动产生单个阿秒脉冲过程中的宏观效应

通过数值模拟三维传播方程研究了双色场产生高次谐波过程中宏观效应的影响,重点分析了阿秒脉冲的时域形状.在6 fs/800 nm和21.3 fs/400 nm组成的双色场中,通过调节双色场间的相对延时,双色场各焦点相对于气体盒子入口的间距和双色场束腰半径和气体压强等参数,可以在平台区得到超宽带连续谱.对该连续谱中420—540 eV的谐波直接进行滤波后可以得到时间同步性很好的单个阿秒脉冲.这种性质对实验上通过双色场方案产生超短的阿秒脉冲非常有利. 关键词： 传播效应 阿秒脉冲 时间同步性     

传播效应对宽带极紫外连续谱的影响

宽带极紫外连续谱是获得阿秒脉冲的重要途径,在此过程中传播效应是影响宽带极紫外连续谱产生的重要因素,本文针对传播效应对宽带极紫外连续谱的影响,采用慢变波近似的一阶传播方程,研究了传播过程对双色场周期量级激光脉冲产生宽带连续谱及其对应的单个阿秒脉冲的影响.通过分析不同聚焦位置和介质长度的传播过程,发现介质位于焦点之后有利于产生连续谱,同时随着介质长度的变长,虽然单个阿秒脉冲峰值强度有所提高,但是产生的阿秒脉冲宽度也会增加.进一步的分析表明,在特定的双色场延迟优化下,传播效应不仅使得阿秒脉冲强度增强,还可以获得与单原子模型下具有同样脉宽的单个阿秒脉冲,而不会因为传播效应导致阿秒脉冲宽度变宽.     

Efficient generation of isolated attosecond pulses with high beam quality by two-color Bessel-Gauss beams

The generation of isolated attosecond pulses with high efficiency and high beam quality is essential for attosecond spectroscopy. We numerically investigate the supercontinuum generation in a neutral rare-gas medium driven by a two-color Bessel-Gauss beam. The results show that an efficient smooth supercontinuum in the plateau is obtained after propagation and the spatial profile of the generated attosecond pulse is Gaussian-like with the divergence angle of 0.1° in the far-field. This bright source with high beam quality is beneficial for detecting and controlling the microscopic processes on attosecond time scale.     

基于固体薄片超连续飞秒光源驱动的高次谐波产生实验

本文报道了采用基于熔石英薄片超连续的少周期飞秒光源驱动高次谐波产生的实验研究.实验中通过将重复频率1kHz的飞秒钛宝石激光放大器所输出的能量0.8mJ、脉宽30fs的脉冲聚焦到7片0.1mm厚的熔融石英片中,得到了覆盖带宽大于倍频程的展宽光谱.利用啁啾镜补偿色散后,经瞬态光栅频率分辨光学开关法测得脉宽为6.3fs,对应约2.3个光学周期.利用压缩后的激光脉冲聚焦作用于惰性气体,并通过调节尖劈插入量改变脉宽,分别测得了分立以及连续的高次谐波截止区信号,结果与6.3fs的脉冲宽度相符合.     

Attosecond angle-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy

We report experiments on the characterization of a train of attosecond pulses obtained by high-harmonic generation, using mixed-color (XUV+IR) atomic two-photon ionization and electron detection on a velocity map imaging detector. We demonstrate that the relative phase of the harmonics is encoded both in the photoelectron yield and the angular distribution as a function of XUV-IR time delay, thus making the technique suitable for the detection of single attosecond pulses. The timing of the attosecond pulse with respect to the field oscillation of the driving laser critically depends on the target gas used to generate the harmonics.     

Numerical characterization of high harmonic attosecond pulses

A numerical simulation of attosecond harmonic pulse generation in a three-dimensional field-ionizing gas is presented. Calculated harmonic efficiencies quantitatively reproduce experimental findings. This allows a quantitative characterization of attosecond pulse generation revealing information currently not accessible by experiment. The rapid phase variation and spatiotemporal distortions of harmonics are smaller than anticipated, allowing focusing of 30-nm, 750-as pulses to intensities in excess of 10(13) W/cm(2). Feasibility of such pulses brings novel applications such as extreme ultraviolet nonlinear optics and attosecond pump probe spectroscopy within reach.     

激光脉冲绝对相位对产生阿秒脉冲的影响

在用超短激光脉冲产生和测量阿秒脉冲的过程中，绝对相位成为一个非常重要的影响因素。讨论了绝对相位对阿秒脉冲的产生和激光振荡的关系的影响，发现高次谐波的产生过程非常稳定，阿秒脉冲和驱动它的激光振荡之间的稳定的相位关系并不会受绝对相位的随机性的破坏，从而为采用交叉相关技术直接测量由强场原子高次谐波过程产生的阿秒脉冲宽度提供了理论依据，正确解释了文献[13]上报道的实验结果。     

阿秒电离门调控宽带超连续谱的传播特性

通过数值模拟三维传播方程研究了双色场阿秒电离门技术调控产生高次谐波的传播特性. 发现波长800和400 nm的5 fs双色场电离门调控产生的谐波在传播0.5 mm后由于短轨道满足相位匹配条件,实现了短轨道的选择,在平台区得到了高效率、无调制的宽带超连续谱（谱宽达80 eV）. 模拟不同传播距离的结果表明该连续谱能够在介质中稳定存在. 对该连续谱中60—90 eV的谐波直接进行滤波可以得到高效率、脉冲宽度约为135 as的单脉冲. 这种性质对实验上实现利用阿秒电离门调控产生高效率宽谱单阿秒非常有利. 关键词： 传播效应 阿秒脉冲 超连续谱     

Generation of high harmonics and attosecond pulses with ultrashort laser pulse filaments and conical waves

Results illustrating the nonlinear dynamics of ultrashort laser pulse filamentation in gases are presented, with particular emphasis on the filament properties useful for developing attosecond light sources. Two aspects of ultrashort pulse filaments are specifically discussed: (i) numerical simulation results on pulse self-compression by filamentation in a gas cell filled with noble gas. Measurements of high harmonics generated by the pulse extracted from the filament allows for the detection of intensity spikes and subcycle pulses generated within the filament. (ii) Simulation results on the spontaneous formation of conical wavepackets during filamentation in gases, which in turn can be used as efficient driving pulses for the generation of high harmonics and isolated attosecond pulses.     

利用三色组合脉冲激光获得孤立阿秒脉冲发射

孤立阿秒脉冲因可以跟踪和控制原子及分子内电子的运动过程而备受关注.本文从理论上开展了氦原子在3束飞秒脉冲激光组合场辐照下产生的高次谐波和阿秒脉冲辐射的研究.组合激光场由16 fs/1600 nm,15 fs/1100 nm和5.3 fs/800 nm的钛宝石脉冲构成.与前两束脉冲合成的双色场产生谐波谱相比,附加钛宝石脉冲的三色场产生的高次谐波发射谱呈现出高转换效率及宽带超连续特性,超连续谱范围覆盖从230—690次谐波,傅里叶变换后实现了128 as高强度孤立短脉冲的产生.该结果归因于合成的三色场呈现出高功率及少周期的中红外飞秒脉冲激光特性,可以有效控制原子电离以及复合发生在中红外飞秒脉冲的一个有效光学周期内.     

Generation of a single attosecond pulse from an overdense plasma surface driven by a laser pulse with time-dependent polarization

The influence of time-dependent polarization on attosecond pulse generation from an overdense plasma surface driven by laser pulse is discussed analytically and numerically.The results show that the frequency of controlling pulse controls the number and interval of the generated attosecond pulse,that the generation moment of the attosecond pulse is dominated by the phase difference between the controlling and driving pulses,and that the amplitude of the controlling pulse affects the intensity of the attosecond pulse.Using the method of time-dependent polarization,a "single" ultra-strong attosecond pulse with duration τ≈ 8.6 as and intensity I ≈ 3.08 × 10 20 W·cm-2 can be generated.     

阿秒脉冲测量的研究进展

对于发生在原子范围内的电子动力学过程的观测需要阿秒量级的时间分辨率.理论和实验研究都已证明,用周期量级超短脉冲直接泵浦的高次谐波过程可以产生阿秒脉冲序列甚至单个的阿秒脉冲,将阿秒脉冲用于测量超快动力学过程之前先要对阿秒脉冲本身性质做出描述,传统的自相关方法和互相关方法不能直接推广到阿秒量级超短脉冲的测量.文章详细介绍了近几年发展起来的阿秒脉冲测量方法,分析了它们的分辨极限和局限性.     

双色激光脉冲辐照下38 as孤立短脉冲的产生

通过数值求解一维含时薛定谔方程, 本文研究了具有特定波长的双色激光脉冲与氦原子相互作用产生的高次谐波和阿秒脉冲, 这里双色激光脉冲由5 fs较低强度基频钛宝石主脉冲与另一束较高强度的1330 nm 红外附加脉冲构成. 研究发现, 若两束脉冲之间的相对相位选择合适, 可以获得宽带连续辐射的高次谐波谱, 叠加该连续辐射谱可获得脉宽为38 as的孤立短脉冲. 进一步研究发现, 不同于以往孤立阿秒脉冲研究中选出长、短量子路径之一作为辐射源, 这里单阿秒脉冲来源于长、短两个量子路径的贡献, 只是这两个量子路径在很宽的谐波次数变化范围内辐射时刻比较集中. 关键词： 双色激光脉冲 阿秒脉冲 量子路径     

紧聚焦激光束作用于电子实现单个阿秒脉冲输出

研究了电子在聚焦的圆偏振高斯激光束中的非线性汤姆孙散射过程，在此基础上提出了实现单个阿秒脉冲输出的新机理.通过计算机模拟，发现利用紧聚焦的激光脉冲可以有效地增大辐射脉冲链的最高峰和次高峰的峰值强度比即信噪比，从而将阿秒脉冲链变为单个阿秒脉冲输出.紧聚焦情形下，随着驱动激光强度的增大，辐射信号的脉宽变短，信噪比变大；同时当减小激光束腰半径时，辐射信号信噪比也能得到有效改善.研究还发现，利用几个光周期的极短激光脉冲与电子的相互作用也能实现单个阿秒脉冲输出. 关键词： 阿秒脉冲 紧聚焦 信噪比     

A new generation optical lithography using a third harmonic pulse generated by micro-ring resonators

We first propose a new system of a third harmonic generation by using a soliton pulse circulating in the integrated micro-ring devices. By using this system, the ultra-short pulse in the attosecond (as) and beyond can be easily generated. In principle, light pulse known as a soliton pulse is input into a design system. It consist the three-stage micro-ring resonators, where the ring radii are within the range between 5 and 35 μm. With the appropriate parameters such as ring radius, coupling ratio and nonlinear refractive index, the attosecond pulse is generated by filtering the chaotic signals within the micro-ring devices. One of the results obtained has shown that the generation of the ultra narrow pulse (spectral width) and sharp tip is achieved. The potential of using such a pulse for picometer (pm)-scale lithography is plausible.     

红外激光场中共振结构原子对极紫外光脉冲的压缩效应

通过数值求解一维原子的含时薛定谔方程, 研究了具有共振结构的原子在双色场(红外激光(IR)+极紫外光(XUV)) 驱动下发射高次谐波的特征. 研究结果表明, 具有共振结构的原子所发射的高次谐波与无共振结构原子(简称为一般原子)发射的高次谐波有明显不同, 共振结构的原子除了在某一能量附近(原子的共振能量+电离能)高次谐波的强度有很大提高外, 它还对XUV光的响应较一般原子表现得更为敏感, 即使XUV光的强度较弱, 也能够明显提高XUV光脉冲中心频率附近的谐波强度, 更重要的是通过调节双色场的时间延迟, 能使输入的XUV光的脉宽得到明显的压缩, 通过时间-频率分析给出了发生这种现象的原因. 由此提出了通过滤波-连续反馈的方式可使XUV光的脉冲从200 as压缩至120 as左右.     

Reshaping of attosecond x-ray pulses in thin crystals

A method for reshaping and control of the duration of attosecond x-ray pulses in thin crystals is proposed. The finite width of the reflection and transmission curves around the Bragg angle allows one to engineer Fabry-Perot-type filters for the generation of a large variety of attosecond pulse shapes. The method considered here can be used to manipulate attosecond pulses produced by high-harmonic generation and also for shorter wavelengths for attosecond pulses from x-ray free-electron lasers. X-ray pulses with controllable amplitude and phase may find useful applications in the newly emerging area of attosecond time-resolved spectroscopy.     

Single attosecond pulse generation from asymmetric molecules with a multicycle laser pulse

A new scheme for single attosecond pulse generation from asymmetric molecules with a multicycle laser pulse is proposed. It is shown that both even and odd harmonics are generated from the asymmetric molecules, and the attosecond pulses are produced every full cycle of the driving laser field rather than each half-cycle. By filtering the harmonics in the cutoff of the spectrum, a single attosecond pulse can be obtained with a multicycle laser pulse with a duration of 2 times longer than the few-cycle pulse conventionally used.