Effect of laser focus in two-color synthesized waveform on generation of soft x-ray high harmonics

Synthesis of multi-color laser pulses has been developed as a promising way to improve low conversion efficiency of high-order harmonic generation (HHG). Here we systematically study the effect of laser focus in a two-color waveform on generation of macroscopic HHG in soft x-rays. We find that the dependence of HHG yields on laser focus at low or high gas pressure is sensitive to the characteristics of single-atom harmonic response, in which "short"-or "long"-trajectory emissions can be selectively controlled by changing the waveform of two-color synthesized laser pulse. We uncover the phase-matching mechanism of HHG in the gas medium by examining the propagation of the two-color waveform and the evolution of time-frequency emissions of high-harmonic field. We further reveal that the nonlinear effects, such as geometric phase, atomic dispersion, and plasma defocusing, are responsible for modification of two-color waveform upon propagation. This work can be used to find better macroscopic conditions for generating soft x-ray HHG by employing two-color optimized waveforms.     

Coherent control of high harmonic generation via dual-gas multijet arrays

High harmonic generation (HHG) is a central driver of the rapidly growing field of ultrafast science. We present a novel quasiphase-matching (QPM) concept with a dual-gas multijet target leading, for the first time, to remarkable phase control between multiple HHG sources (>2) within the Rayleigh range. The alternating jet structure with driving and matching zones shows perfect coherent buildup for up to six QPM periods. Although not in the focus of the proof-of-principle studies presented here, we achieved competitive conversion efficiencies already in this early stage of development.     

Effect of electron correlation on high-order harmonic generation in helium model atom

High-order harmonic generation (HHG) of a helium model atom in an intense laser field has been numerically investigated. The influence of electron correlation on HHG is analysed by changing the strength between the electrons. The numerical results show that as the electron interaction strength becomes small, the first ionization energy increases rapidly, which results in the decrease in ionization. So the conversion efficiency of the high harmonic lying in the plateau decreases greatly, while the cutoff harmonic order in the harmonic spectrum increases.     

Higher harmonic generation in laser plasma upon interaction of femtosecond laser pulses with doubly and singly charged ions under conditions of resonance frequency conversion of laser radiation

The higher harmonic generation (HHG) in plasmas formed on the surface of different solid targets (Pb, Ag, Ge, In, Au, Cr, Pt, V, Mn, Ga, Bi, Sb, Cu, Al, Ca, and Sn) by laser ablation is studied. The possibility of HHG upon interaction of femtosecond radiation with doubly charged ions is studied on the example of Mn plasma. This process allowed generation of higher harmonics of up to the 101st order. The results of investigation of individual enhanced harmonics in Sn, Sb, In, and Cr plasmas are presented. Comparison of the conditions of HHG in weakly and strongly excited plasmas showed that the latter is preferable for efficient frequency conversion. It is demonstrated that the use of laser plasma spectroscopy with high time resolution allows one to determine the optimal conditions for generation of harmonics with a plateaulike distribution in the far-UV spectral region.     

任意偏振激光作用下二维模型H原子的谐波发射

采用二维渐近边界条件和辛算法数值求解了任意偏振激光和H原子相互作用的二维含时Schrödinger方程的无穷空间初值问题. 计算了二维H原子在不同偏振激光作用下的谐波发射,得到各种椭圆率下谐波谱的特点与已有文献结果一致.通过电子的基态布居概率和某一时刻的概率密度分布以及电子的平均位移,对不同椭圆率下谐波谱的特点进行了分析. 结果表明,将渐近边界条件和辛算法推广到二维是合理和有效的. 关键词： 二维渐近边界条件 辛算法 任意偏振激光 高次谐波     

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.     

采用适宜靶原子提高高次谐波的转化效率

通过对影响谐波转化效率因素的分析,提出选择适宜的靶原子对象,即选择在高能区具有较强连续态-基态耦合强度的靶原子,可以优化高次谐波的发射条件.本文的数值实验结果表明,利用该方案,可以把平台区尾部谐波的转化效率提高两个数量级.     

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.     

强激光场中模型氢原子和真实氢原子产生高次谐波的比较

通过数值求解原子在强激光场中的含时薛定谔方程,研究了有库仑奇点和无库仑奇点的一维模型氢原子和三维真实氢原子产生高次谐波的特性.结果表明,有库仑奇点和无库仑奇点的一维模型氢原子和三维真实氢原子产生高次谐波的截止位置相同,但是高次谐波强度变化特征明显不同,进一步的研究表明,无库仑奇点的模型氢原子产生的高次谐波谱相对变化趋势与三维真实氢原子的高次谐波谱变化趋势是完全一致的.     

强激光场中模型氢原子和真实氢原子产生高次谐波的比较

通过数值求解原子在强激光场中的含时薛定谔方程,研究了有库仑奇点和无库仑奇点的一维模型氢原子和三维真实氢原子产生高次谐波的特性。结果表明,有库仑奇点和无库仑奇点的一维模型氢原子和三维真实氢原子产生高次谐波的截止位置相同,但是高次谐波强度变化特征明显不同,进一步的研究表明,无库仑奇点的模型氢原子产生的高次谐波谱相对变化趋势与三维真实氢原子的高次谐波谱变化趋势是完全一致的。     

双色场中高次谐波转化效率提高的数值研究

采用渐近边界条件和辛算法数值求解了双色激光场分别与模型Pschl-Teller势和模型He⁺相互作用的含时Schrdinger方程的无穷空间初值问题,计算了电离概率、电子平均位移、高次谐波与跃迁概率;数值结果显示,添加适当的倍频光的双色激光场使高次谐波转化效率极大提高,并给出定性与定量分析. 关键词： 辛算法 双色激光场 高次谐波 定量分析     

双色激光场中高次谐波转化效率的提高

采用渐近边界条件和辛算法数值求解双色激光场与模型P?schl-Teller势相互作用的含时Schr?dinger方程，计算了电离概率、平均位移、高次谐波以及跃迁概率；数值结果显示添加6倍频光的双色激光场能使高次谐波转化效率明显提高.分析了双色激光场极大地提高高次谐波转化效率的机理，并且通过对产生特定级次谐波的跃迁概率的计算，给出高次谐波转化效率提高的具体数值. 关键词： 渐近边界条件 辛算法 双色激光场 高次谐波     

Harmonic Enhancement Mechanism of a Superposition State Atom Irradiated by Short Pulses

We investigate the high-order harmonic generation （HHG） of a model atom whose initial state is prepared in a superposition of its ground state and an excited state irradiated by different duration laser pulses. Compared to the HHG generated from an atom whose initial state is in its ground state, its conversion efficiency obtains some enhancement. The enhancement originates from the higher ionization rate （rather than the ionization yield） of the atom with superposition initial state.     

Plasma effect on the phase matching of high harmonic generation

By optimizing the phase matching condition of high harmonic generation(HHG) from a supersonic neon gas jet,the enhanced HHG in the region of 60-70 eV has been selected.Three-dimensional numerical calculation shows that plasma plays a significant role in the phase matching process of HHG in a supersonic gas jet with short medium length.Due to plasma formation,the harmonic emission decays as the laser intensity reaches over 3.5 × 10 14 W/cm 2.The plasma induces the broadening and blue shift of the HHG spectra,which provides a method for fine-tuning the harmonic wavelength.     

高次谐波的Guo-Åberg-Crasemann理论及其截断定律

将Guo-Åberg-Crasemann形式散射理论推广到高次谐波产生过程, 获得了高次谐波产生概率公式. 利用这一公式, 计算了不同惰性气体原子的高次谐波谱. 理论分析和数值计算显示高次谐波有新的截断定律q_cħω = (9 -4√2) U_p + (2√2-1) I_p ≈ 3.34 U_p + 1.83 I_p, 其中, U_p 为电子的有质动能, I_p 为原子电离能, ħω 为激光光子能量, q_c 为高次谐波的截断阶数. 这一截断定律与近期Popmintchev等 (Popmintchev et al. 2012 Science 336 1287) 的实验观测符合得很好.     

Influence of intraband motion on the interband excitation and high harmonic generation

Tunnelling, acceleration, and collision of electrons are the basic events in the process of high harmonic generation(HHG) in strong-field interaction with atoms.However, the periodic array of atoms in semiconductor structure makes three steps become interatomic coherent process which leads to complicated carrier dynamics and two sources of high harmonic emission: interband polarization and intraband current.The difference of features of high harmonic generation between semiconductors and atoms is strongly linked to the unique presence of intraband motion which manifests itself a nontrivial role in intertwined two dynamics.Here, we review recent experimental and theoretical advances of understanding coupled interband and intraband mechanisms of HHG in semiconductors.Particularly we focus on the influence of intraband motion on the interband excitation, and on the subsequent HHG emission and attosecond pulse generation.     

Strain effect on the orientation-dependent harmonic spectrum of monolayer aluminum nitride

In this study, we theoretically investigate the strain effect on the orientation-dependent high-order harmonic generation(HHG) of monolayer aluminum nitride(Al N) by solving the multiband semiconductor Bloch equations in strong laser fields. Our simulations denote that the efficiency of the orientation-dependent HHG is considerably enhanced when a 15% biaxial tensile strain is applied to Al N, which is attributed to the downshifting energy level of the conduction band. Furthermore, the odd-even feature in the orientation-dependent high harmonic spectra owing to the strain is considerably different when compared with that in the case without strain. The enhanced quantum interference between different energy bands in strained Al N around the Γ-M direction is responsible for the observed odd-even distributions of the orientation-dependent HHG. This study helps to better understand the HHG in solids by tuning their electronic structures.     

Use of carbon-containing materials for efficient high-order harmonic generation of laser radiation

A systematic study of the high-order harmonic generation (HHG) of laser radiation in various carbon-containing plasma plumes (CCPPs) is presented. The materials studied are: graphite, boron carbide, C₆₀, polytetrafluoroethylene, polyethylene, carbon nanotubes, and soot. These studies show that CCPPs present the best plasma media for efficient lower order (from 9th to 19th) harmonic generation, while the harmonic cutoff restricted to the 29th order. The advantages of CCPPs for the harmonic generation are confirmed by comparison of the HHG conversion efficiency with that in Ag and In plasma plumes, where the highest conversion efficiency was reported. Use of two-color pump scheme allows further enhancement of harmonic yield from the CCPPs.     

Optical high harmonic generation in C60

High harmonic generation (HHG) requires a strong laser field, but in C60 a relatively weak laser field is sufficient. Numerical results presented here show that, while its low order harmonics result from the laser field, its high order ones are mainly from the multiple excitations. Since high order harmonics directly correlate with electronic transitions, the HHG spectrum accurately measures transition energies. Therefore, C60 is not only a promising material for HHG, but may also present an opportunity to develop HHG into an electronic structure probing tool.     

Single-pass high-harmonic generation at 20.8 MHz repetition rate

We report on single-pass high-harmonic generation (HHG) with amplified driving laser pulses at a repetition rate of 20.8?MHz. An Yb:YAG Innoslab amplifier system provides 35?fs pulses with 20?W average power at 1030?nm after external pulse compression. Following tight focusing into a xenon gas jet, we observe the generation of high-harmonic radiation of up to the seventeenth order. Our results show that state-of-the-art amplifier systems have become a promising alternative to cavity-assisted HHG for applications that require high repetition rates, such as frequency comb spectroscopy in the extreme UV.