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.     

三色圆偏振激光组合脉冲驱动氦原子产生椭圆偏振的阿秒脉冲

我们提出利用频率为ω,3ω和强度较弱的2ω组成的三色圆偏振激光组合脉冲驱动氦原子能够得到椭偏率较大的阿秒脉冲链的一种方法.通过强场近似方法,计算了氦原子在两色和三色圆偏振激光组合脉冲驱动下发射高次谐波谱及其合成阿秒脉冲链,比较了氦原子(初态为s态)在这两种情况下发射高次谐波谱的特点及其合成阿秒脉冲链椭偏率的大小,结果发现,在反旋的两色ω,3ω激光脉冲基础上加入了频率为2ω的第三色激光脉冲联合作用到氦原子上,所得到的阿秒脉冲链的椭偏率相对于双圆场情况下有所增加,通过调整ω,3ω激光的强度比,并且选择适当的第三色激光的强度,对初态为s态的原子,仍能够得到具有较大椭偏率的阿秒脉冲链.     

Controlling the contributions to high-order harmonic generation from different nuclei of N_2 with an orthogonally polarized two-color laser field

The generation of high-order harmonic and the attosecond pulse of the N2 molecule with an orthogonally polarized two-color laser field are investigated by the strong-field Lewenstein model.We show that the control of contributions to high-order harmonic generation(HHG) from different nuclei is realized by properly selecting the relative phase.When the relative phase is chosen to be φ= 0.4π,the contribution to HHG from one nucleus is much more than that from another.Interference between two nuclei can be suppressed greatly; a supercontinuum spectrum of HHG appears from 40 e V to125 e V.The underlying physical mechanism is well explained by the time–frequency analysis and the semi-classical threestep model with a finite initial transverse velocity.By superposing several orders of harmonics,an isolated attosecond pulse with a duration of 80 as can be generated.     

Generation of an isolated sub-100 attosecond pulse in the water-window spectral region

We propose a scheme to generate isolated attosecond pulses in the water-window spectral region. Based on the numerical solutions of the single active electron model, we investigate high-order harmonic generation in helium atoms driven by a multi-cycle two-colour optical field synthesized by an intense 2000 nm, 20 fs pulse and its frequency-doubled pulse. When the latter is slightly detuned and properly phase shifted with respect to the fundamental laser pulse, an ultra-broad extreme ultraviolet supercontinuum with a spectral width of 130~eV can be generated in the 270--400~eV spectral regions. A supercontinuum from 280--340~eV in the water window can be selected to yield an isolated 67 attosecond pulse without employing any phase compensation. This water window coherent x-ray pulse with less than 100 attosecond duration is a potential tool for studying the ultrafast electronic dynamics of biological samples in water.     

High-order harmonic generation of the N2 molecule in two-color circularly polarized laser fields

The generation of high-order harmonics and the attosecond pulse of the N₂ molecule in two-color circularly polarized laser fields are investigated by the strong-field Lewenstein model. We show that the plateau of spectra is dramatically extended and a continuous harmonic spectrum with the bandwidth of 113 eV is obtained. When a static field is added to the x direction, the quantum path control is realized and a supercontinuum spectrum can be obtained, which is beneficial to obtain a shorter attosecond pulse. The underlying physical mechanism is well explained by the time-frequency analysis and the semi-classical three-step model with a finite initial transverse velocity. By superposing several orders of harmonics in the combination of two-color circularly polarized laser fields and a static field, an isolated attosecond pulse with a duration of 30 as can be generated.     

Single-pinhole diffraction of few-cycle isolated attosecond pulses with a two-color field

The spatio-temporal characterization of an isolated attosecond pulse is investigated theoretically in a two-color field.Our results show that a few-cycle isolated attosecond pulse with the center wavelength of 16 nm can be generated effectively by adding a weak controlling field. Using the split and delay units, the isolated attosecond pulse can be split to the two same ones, and then single-pinhole diffractive patterns of the two pulses with different delays can be achieved. The diffractive patterns depend severely on the periods of the attosecond pulses, which can be helpful to obtain temporal information of the coherent sources.     

非平行偏振双色场驱动产生脉宽稳定的单个宽谱阿秒脉冲

提出一种直接得到脉宽稳定的单个宽谱阿秒脉冲的新方法.利用波长为800 nm脉宽为5 fs的超短脉冲叠加上偏振方向与主脉冲成π/3,脉宽同样为5 fs的二次谐波脉冲驱动氦原子,可以得到宽度达到50 eV的超连续谱.当二次谐波的强度大于10¹⁴ W/cm²时,超连续谱的位置以及谱宽几乎不会随着二次谐波脉冲的强度的改变而改变.对85—125 eV的超连续谱进行滤波可以直接得到100 as左右的单个阿秒脉冲,这个性质对于实验上获得单个宽谱阿秒脉冲而言是非常有利的. 关键词： 阿秒脉冲 超连续谱     

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.     

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     

强激光等离子体相互作用驱动高次谐波与阿秒辐射研究进展

对超快过程的探测和控制决定了人类在微观层面认识和改造物质世界的能力.阿秒光源可完成对组成物质的电子运动及其关联效应进行超高时空分辨的探测和操控,为人类认识微观世界提供了全新手段,被认为是激光科学史上最重要的里程碑之一.世界主要科技强国都将阿秒科学列为未来10年重要的科技发展方向.利用强激光与物质相互作用产生高次谐波是突破飞秒极限实现高亮度阿秒脉冲辐射的重要方案之一,成为了近年来激光等离子体领域的研究热点.本文聚焦强激光与等离子体相互作用中的高次谐波和阿秒脉冲辐射,主要介绍其产生机制、研究进展和前沿应用,并对未来的发展趋势和创新突破进行展望.     

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.     

中红外组合激光场调控宽带超连续谱的产生

本文对原子在波长为2000nm、脉宽为12.5fs的中红外驱动脉冲和脉宽为1.3fs的紫外控制脉冲叠加形成的组合场中产生的高次谐波进行了研究.通过组合场驱动氦原子得到了谱宽为230eV的超连续谱.利用组合场产生的谐波比单独利用中红外脉冲产生的谐波的强度高了3个量级.对超连续谱进行滤波并调节组合场中两束激光的延迟时间,可以直接产生100as的单个脉冲.我们发现超连续谱的宽度和位置几乎不会因为驱动场和控制场强度的变化而改变,这种性质有利于从实验上获得单个宽谱阿秒脉冲.     

Broadband-Isolated Attosecond Pulse Generation by Two-Color Elliptically Polarized Laser Pulses

We numerically solve the two-dimensional Schrödinger equation and investigate isolated attosecond pulse generation by combining a left and a right elliptically polarized pulse together. It is found that the plateau of the harmonic spectra can be extended and the quantum paths can be controlled by adjusting ellipticity. A broadband width of about 220 eV is generated for the case that ellipticity equals 0.3, and time-frequency time–frequency analysis shows that only one long quantum path contributes to high-order harmonic generation. By superposing a bandwidth of 60 eV near the cutoff of the harmonic plateau, an attosecond pulse with the duration of about 62 as could be generated.     

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.     

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.     

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     

Controlling the spacing of attosecond pulse trains from relativistic surface plasmas

When a laser pulse hits a solid surface with relativistic intensities, XUV attosecond pulses are generated in the reflected light. We present an experimental and theoretical study of the temporal properties of attosecond pulse trains in this regime. The recorded harmonic spectra show distinct fine structures which can be explained by a varying temporal pulse spacing that can be controlled by the laser contrast. The pulse spacing is directly related to the cycle-averaged motion of the reflecting surface. Thus the harmonic spectrum contains information on the relativistic plasma dynamics.     

Broadband attosecond pulse shaping

We use semiconductor (Si) and metallic (Al, Zr) transmission filters to shape, in amplitude and phase, high-order harmonics generated from the interaction of an intense titanium sapphire laser field with a pulsed neon gas target. Depending on the properties of the filter, the emitted attosecond pulses can be optimized in bandwidth and/or pulse length. We demonstrate the generation of attosecond pulses centered at energies from 50 to 80 eV, with bandwidths as large as 45 eV and with pulse durations compressed to 130 as.     

激光与相对论电子束相互作用中阿秒X射线脉冲的产生

本文对激光与相对论电子束相互作用产生的阿秒X射线脉冲进行了研究.阿秒X射线脉冲是由于激光被相对论运动的电子束经过汤姆孙后向散射产生的.讨论了等离子体参数对产生的阿秒X射线的影响.发现其波长随着入射激光的频率的增加或电子束的速度增加而减小.选择合适的参数还可以获得"水窗"波段的X射线.还讨论了相对论电子束的密度与其前沿的密度梯度的大小对所产生X射线的转化效率的影响. 关键词： 阿秒X射线脉冲 汤姆孙后向散射 超强激光 相对论电子束     

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.