Optimization of attosecond pulse generation

The generation of attosecond pulses by superposition of high harmonics relies on their synchronization in the emission. Our experiments in the low-order, plateau, and cutoff regions of the spectrum reveal different regimes in the electron dynamics determining the synchronization quality. The shortest pulses are obtained by combining a spectral filtering of harmonics from the end of the plateau and the cutoff, and a far-field spatial filtering that selects a single electron quantum path contribution to the emission. This method applies to isolated pulses as well as pulse trains.     

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.     

Spectral line-by-line pulse shaping

We experimentally demonstrate pulse-shaping experiments in which the individual spectral lines that are present in the output of a mode-locked laser (8.5 GHz mode spacing, centered at 1542 nm) are resolved. The shaped pulses overlap in time, and this leads to a new way to observe fluctuations of the comb-offset frequency in the time domain.     

Femtosecond polarization pulse shaping

We report computer-controlled femtosecond polarization pulse shaping where intensity, momentary frequency, and light polarization are varied as functions of time. For the first time to our knowledge, a pulse shaper is used to modulate the degree of ellipticity as well as the orientation of the elliptical principal axes within a single laser pulse by use of a 256-pixel two-layer liquid-crystal display inside a zero-dispersion compressor. Interferometric stability of the setup is not required. Complete pulse characterization is achieved by dual-channel spectral interferometry. This technology has a large range of applications, especially in the field of quantum control.     

Feedback-controlled femtosecond pulse shaping

We describe the experimental implementation of feedback-optimized femtosecond laser pulse shaping. A frequency-domain phase shaper is combined with different pulse characterization methods and appropriate optimization algorithms to compensate for any phase deviation. In particular, bandwidth-limited, amplified laser pulses are achieved by maximizing the second-harmonic generation (SHG) of the shaped laser pulses with the aid of an evolutionary algorithm. Real-time measurement of the absolute phases is achieved with spectral interferometry where the reference pulse is characterized by FROG, the so-called TADPOLE method. Using the complete electric field as feedback, arbitrary laser pulse shapes can be optimally generated in two different ways. First, a local convergence algorithm can be used to apply reliable and accurate spectral chirps. Second, an evolutionary algorithm can be employed to reach specific temporal profiles.     

KrF激光脉冲整形研究

 实验研究了脉冲堆积法对KrF激光的整形能力。利用受激布里渊散射(SBS)压缩脉冲获得了脉宽为3~5 ns的短脉冲，用4束激光堆积获得了脉宽为10~15 ns、平顶宽度为5~10 ns的整形脉冲。利用实测SBS脉冲数据，对脉冲堆积法进行了数值模拟，模拟的脉冲宽度为12.7 ns，平顶宽度为7.7 ns，该结果与实验相符。对脉冲堆积法的任意整形能力进行了模拟，讨论了脉冲宽度变化对整形的影响，发现脉宽变化在5%以内时，对整形脉冲的影响较小。对整形脉冲的放大进行了定性研究，结果表明：平顶脉冲通过放大器后，前沿部分放大较多，由于饱和作用，后沿放大较少；如果前端整形脉冲前沿为斜坡状，放大后可以得到近平顶的脉冲。     

附加谐波脉冲生成强的39阿秒孤立脉冲

采用多周期800 nm激光组合它的27次谐波脉冲生成超短、宽频的孤立阿秒脉冲.研究表明,脉宽为1 fs的27次谐波脉冲可以有效地控制电子动力学过程.将其加入到单色激光场的特定时域,可以控制电离概率在半个光学周期内迅速提升,使得谐波的转化效率相对于单色场情形增强4个数量级,并实现单一的短量子路径选择,出现频宽为108 eV的超连续辐射谱,叠加该连续谱140次到210次谐波获得了脉宽为39as的强、短孤立脉冲.与文献[7]中采用5 fs/800 nm激光附加紫外阿秒脉冲的方法相比,该方案生成的连续谱频带增宽一 关键词： 组合激光脉冲 连续辐射谱 阿秒脉冲     

采用组合脉冲驱动生成单一的X射线阿秒脉冲

采用组合激光脉冲(800 nm/9.4 fs 24 nm/1 fs)辐照联合两原子体系产生高次谐波,获得了单一的X-射线阿秒脉冲.我们发现,当固定钛宝石激光的峰值强度并改变高频谐波脉冲的峰值强度Ih时,存在一个优选的Ih范围,在该范围内相应的阿秒脉冲最优化,即强度达到最强,对此,本文从受激复合的角度给出了合理解释.     

调控空间非均匀啁啾场获得孤立阿秒脉冲

通过调节二阶啁啾参数和空间非均匀效应对高次谐波光谱进行了优化.结果表明：在长脉宽负向啁啾和负向非均匀效应组合下,谐波光谱截止能量和强度得到最佳增大,并获得X射线范围内的光谱连续区.最后,通过叠加光谱连续区上的部分谐波可获得一个脉宽仅为23 as的孤立脉冲.     

Time-energy properties of an attosecond extreme ultra-violet pulse

The time-energy properties of high-order harmonic generation (HHG) are calculated for a linearly polarized 7-fs laser pulse with different carrier-envelope phases (CEPs). The quantum trajectory paths that contribute to an as (1 as=10-18 s) pulse in HHG are identified. The laser-duration dependence and the CEP dependence of HHG energy property are investigated. The study shows that an as extreme ultra-violet (XUV) pulse can be selected from HHG spectrum near cut-off energy with a bandpass optical filter. The theoretical prediction of the pulse duration is proportional to bandwidth. Analysis suggests that a measured narrowband as XUV pulse may consist of instantaneous shorter pulses each dependent on laser pulse duration, intensity, and CEP. These information can be used as references for producing, selecting, improving and manipulating (timing) as pulses.     

Chirped polarization-gating technique for isolated attosecond pulse generation

We propose a scheme to generate broadband high harmonic supercontinuum and single attosecond pulse emission in time domain by employing a chirped polarization-gating laser field. It is shown that this scheme can significantly extend the high harmonic cutoff to higher energy region, and the produced isolated attosecond pulse is shorter than 100 attoseconds after proper dispersion compensation, when a 7 fs driving laser pulse is used.     

Quantum-mechanical analysis of pulse reconstruction for a narrow bandwidth attosecond x-ray pulse

The photoelectron energy spectra (PESs) excited by narrow bandwidth attosecond x-ray pulses in the presence of a few-cycle laser are quantum-mechanically calculated. Transfer equations are used to reconstruct the detailed temporal structure of an attosecond x-ray pulse directly from a measured PES. Theoretical analysis shows that the temporal uncertainties of the pulse reconstruction depend on the x-ray bandwidth. The procedure of pulse reconstruction is direct and simple without making any previous pulse assumption, data fitting analysis and time-resolved measurement of PESs. The temporal measurement range is half of a laser optical cycle.     

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.     

利用双色啁啾激光场产生超短的单个阿秒脉冲

数值研究了氦原子在两束啁啾激光场形成的组合场驱动下所发射高次谐波的特点.计算结果表明,当两束啁啾激光场的形式为δi(t)=-βiωit2/T (i=1,2)并且啁啾参数分别为β1=0.3和β2=0.6时,高次谐波谱的平台区域能得到很大的扩展,随后通过激光场强度以及相位的优化,谐波截至能量延伸到了812eV.最后通过叠加谐波次数从160次到210次,210次到260次,260次到310次,可获得一系列脉宽为33as的单个阿秒脉冲.     

通过双色激光场和低频电场合成获得孤立40阿秒脉冲

本文提出了一个在双色激光场上叠加低频电场来拓宽高次谐波谱平台区域,从而获得孤立40阿秒脉冲的方案.计算中,我们针对氦原子数值求解了一维含时薛定谔方程,并结合电子的经典回碰动能随时间分布图以及时频分析图,分析了低频电场对高次谐波谱产生过程的影响.计算结果表明,该方案可以有效的拓宽谐波谱的平台区域.通过叠加适当阶数的谐波谱,我们得到了孤立40阿秒脉冲.     

Isolated attosecond pulse generation from atom radiated by a three-color laser pulse

We theoretically investigate high-order harmonic and attosecond pulse generation from helium atom in a three-color laser field, which is synthesized by 10 fs/800 nm Ti-sapphire laser and a two-color field consisting of 30 fs/532 nm and30 fs/1330 nm pulses. Compared with harmonic spectrum generated by a monochromatic field, the harmonics generated from the synthesized three-color field show a supercontinuum spectrum with a bandwidth of 235 eV, ranging from the 154 th to the 306 th order harmonic. This phenomenon can be attributed to the fact that the ionization of atoms as well as motion of ionized electron can be effectively controlled in the three-color field. Therefore, an isolated 46-as pulse can be generated by superposing supercontinuum from the 160 th to the 210 th order harmonics.     

Transient absorption of attosecond pulse trains by laser-dressed helium

We investigate transient absorption of high harmonics in an attosecond pulse train by laser-dressed He atoms using both single-atom and macroscopic methods. Calculations of the absorption as a function of laser wavelength and intensity reveal that the absorption probability is tied to resonant laser-dressed atomic states. We report for the first time to our knowledge a quarter-laser-cycle modulation in the absorption (mixed with the well-known half-cycle modulation). We discuss the conditions for which this high-order coupling could be observed and the role that the reshaping of the attosecond pulses in the medium plays in the timing of absorption.     

Effect of pulse duration on generation of attosecond pulse with coherent wake emission

High-order harmonics and attosecond pulse generation with coherent wake emission are theoretically investigated for the effect of pulse duration and carrier envelope phase (CEP) of few-cycle laser pulse. We find that short pulse duration will cause the negative chirp for the high harmonics. When the laser pulse is shortened to a few cycles, the influence of the laser CEP on the chirp of the harmonics will also become more prominent.     

60 fs长脉宽双色场作用下孤立阿秒脉冲的产生

通过数值求解一维含时Schrödinger方程,研究了具有较长脉宽双色激光脉冲与氢原子相互作用产生的高次谐波和阿秒(as)脉冲.这里的双色激光脉冲由一束基频钛宝石主脉冲与另一束红外附加脉冲构成.研究发现,当合成脉冲的脉宽选为12 fs时, 选取合适的附加脉冲波长,合成电场的振幅在始末端时间段能被大幅抑制, 仅中间部分的电场对谐波谱平台区和截止位置起主要贡献. 通过分析合成脉冲电场始末端时间段抑制的机理,进一步扩展了合成脉冲脉宽到60 as, 并得到160 as的孤立短脉冲.这是迄今为止在孤立阿秒脉冲产生研究中所采用的最长脉宽. 该方案中的合成脉冲等效于单一5 fs短脉冲的作用, 却克服了5 fs脉冲低输出能量导致的阿秒脉冲能量低的困难.     

阿秒光脉冲技术的发展和应用

阿秒光脉冲的产生方法获得2023年诺贝尔物理学奖,引起了人们的广泛兴趣。阿秒脉冲是通过周期量级的飞秒脉冲产生高次谐波得到的,其中需要许多关键技术,包括飞秒脉冲压缩技术、脉冲载波相位的稳定控制以及脉冲强度的提高。文章简要介绍阿秒脉冲的产生方法,及其发展趋势和应用。