High-order harmonics generation by few-cycle and multi-cycle femtosecond laser pulses

This paper investigates experimentally high-order harmonic generation(HHG) of neon gas with 5-fs and 25-fs driving laser pulses.It has been demonstrated that the cutoff energy of the harmonic extreme ultraviolet photons is extended to 131 eV and the HHG spectrum near the cutoff region becomes continuum as the driving laser pulse duration is 5 fs;whereas much lower cutoff photon energy and discrete harmonic spectrum near the cutoff region are presented as the laser pulse duration is 25 fs.The results can be explained by the fact that neutral atoms can be exposed to more intense laser field before they are depleted by ionization because of the extremely short rising time of the few-cycle pulse.The 5-fs driving laser pulse paves the way of generation of coherent x-ray in the water window and single attosecond pulse.     

Carrier envelope phase effect on the spatial distribution of high-order harmonic generation in asymmetric molecule

The spatial distribution in high-order harmonic generation(HHG) from the asymmetric diatomic molecule He H~(2+) is investigated by numerically solving the non-Born–Oppenheimer time-dependent Schr?dinger equation(TDSE). The spatial distribution of the HHG spectra shows that there is little contribution in HHG around the geometric center of two nuclei(z = 1.17 a.u.) and the equilibrium internuclear position of the H nucleus(z = 3.11 a.u.). We demonstrate the carrier envelope phase(CEP) effect on the spatial distribution of HHG in a few-cycle laser pulse. The HHG process is investigated by the time evolution of the electronic density distribution. The time–frequency analysis of HHG from two nuclei in HeH~(2+) is presented to further explain the underlying physical mechanism.     

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     

Optimization of high-harmonic generation

The dependence of the high-harmonic conversion efficiency in noble gases on experimental parameters is analyzed. The results presented here supply a guideline for the optimization of HHG. The most striking finding of our analysis is the dependence of the harmonic yield on the laser pulse duration. It is generally accepted that the harmonic yield increases for shorter pulse durations. Calculations in neon show that this is only true for harmonics close to the cutoff. Away from the cutoff however, the harmonic yield increases approximately linearly with the pulse duration.     

Single Ultrashort Attosecond Pulse Generation via Combination of Chirped Fundamental Laser and an Ultraviolet Controlling Pulse

We theoretically study the high-order harmonic generation (HHG) from a hydrogen atom in an intense few-cycle chirped fundamental laser in combination with an ultraviolet (uv) controlling pulse.The high-order harmonic spectrum is calculated by solving the time-dependent Schr¨odinger equation using the split-operator method.In our calculation,we present the difference of the high-order harmonic spectrum from one-dimensional (1D) model hydrogen atom and three-dimensional (3D) real hydrogen atom.We found that the plateau of the high-order harmonic generation from the 1D case and 3D case are all extended effectively to I p + 35U p due to the presence of the chirped laser pulse and the HHG supercontinuum spectrum is generated by adding an ultraviolet controlling pulse at a proper time,but the efficiency of the HHG for 3D case is more higher at the near cut-off region than the 1D case.Therefore,the generation of the attosecond pulse by synthesizing the harmonics near cut-off region have some slight differences between 1D and 3D simulations.As a real 3D case study,we show that an isolated 18 as pulse with a bandwidth of 232.5 eV is generated directly by optmizing the combination laser fields.     

Laser-Duration Dependence of Emission Properties of High-Order Harmonic Generation

Quantitative investigations are made for the laser-duration dependence of the emission properties of high-order harmonic generation （HHG）. HHG emission properties produced by few-cycle lasers show some useful characteristics. The cutoff energy is less than that by laser for infinite duration. The single energy distribution pulse decreases much faster than its duration as the laser duration grows. A two-cycle laser with carrier-envelope phase of 0° can produce a single distribution pulse peaked at the laser carrier phase 1.22 rad and spanned 1.18 rad with the cutoff energy 2.9Up ＋ Ip and a bandwidth 0.63Up, where Up is the ponderomotive potential of the laser field and Ip is the atomic ionization potential.     

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.     

超强飞秒激光脉冲作用下氢分子的高次谐波行为——基于含时密度泛函理论的模拟

在含时密度泛函理论框架下,采用经典和量子相结合的模型,模拟了氢分子在超强飞秒激光脉冲作用下的高次谐波行为. 结果表明氢分子的高次谐波谱具有“下降—平台—截止”的结构和偶次谐波被禁闭仅出现奇次谐波的选择性特征;不同的激光偏振方向会导致高次谐波的截止频率和谱线强度的变化. 关键词： TDDFT 超强飞秒激光 高次谐波 2分子')" href="#">H₂分子     

Probing subcycle spectral structures and dynamics of high-order harmonic generation in crystals

Subcycle spectral structures and dynamics of high-order harmonic generation (HHG) processes of atoms and molecules driven by intense laser fields on the attosecond time scale have been originally studied theoretically and experimentally. However, the time scale of HHG dynamics in crystals is in the order of sub-femtosecond, and the carrier dynamics of HHG in crystals driven by subcycle laser pulses are largely unexplored. Here we perform a theoretical study of subcycle structures, spectra, and dynamics of HHG of crystals in mid-infrared laser fields subject to excitation by a subcycle laser pulse with a time delay. The HHG spectra as a function of time delay between two laser fields are calculated by using a single-band model for the intra-band carrier dynamics in crystal momentum space and by solving the time-dependent Schrödinger equation in velocity gauge for the treatment of multi-band crystal systems. The results exhibit a complex time-delay-dependent oscillatory pattern, and the enhancement and suppression of the HHG related to subcycle pulse are observed at the given time delay in either single-band or multi-band crystal systems. To understand oscillation structures with respect to the dependence for the subcycle laser fields, the time-frequency characteristics of the HHG as well as the probability density distribution of the radiation are analyzed in detail.     

正交偏振双色激光场作用下高次谐波的椭偏特性研究

通过数值求解二维含时薛定谔方程,理论研究了正交偏振双色激光场作用下H2+分子高次谐波发射和孤立阿秒脉冲的产生. 数值结果显示,改变激光场的强度比,可以调控高次谐波强度以及谐波椭偏率. 结果表明随着场强比的增加,y方向的谐波强度不断提高. 当场强比为1:2.5时,x方向和y方向分别仅有奇次谐波和偶次谐波产生,并且偶次谐波的强度比奇次谐波强度高2-3个数量级. 此时,奇次谐波的椭偏率最大可以达到0.3,偶次谐波的椭偏率接近于0. 此外,通过改变分子的准直角可以控制谐波的椭偏率,基于这一现象,利用椭圆偏振高次谐波的平台区合成了椭偏率为0.05的椭圆偏振阿秒脉冲链.     

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.     

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.     

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.     

载波相位对超短脉冲谐波谱的影响

数值计算了线偏振的超短激光脉冲(脉冲持续时间为两个光学周期)与一维模型原子相互作用产生的高次谐波发射功率谱. 研究表明,当载波相位发生变化时,超短脉冲谐波谱的截止频率也随之改变,而且在特定相位下,谐波谱出现了明显的双平台结构. 对此,采用半经典的“三步”模型给出了合理解释,并利用小波时频分析方法证实“三步”模型可以准确预言超短脉冲谐波谱的截止频率. 关键词： 高次谐波 超短脉冲 载波相位     

空间非均匀啁啾双色场驱动下氦离子的高次谐波以及孤立阿秒脉冲的产生

本文理论上研究了初态为基态与第一激发态等权叠加的一维氦离子在空间非均匀啁啾双色场驱动下氦离子的高次谐波发射及孤立阿秒脉冲的产生. 研究表明, 一维氦离子在空间非均匀啁啾双色场驱动下发射的高次谐波相对于均匀场情况截止位置得到明显扩展, 得到了光滑的超连续谱,并应用半经典三步模型解释了高次谐波发射的物理机理. 通过小波变换的方法对连续谱进行了时频分析, 并且与电子的经典运动轨迹进行了对比分析, 结果显示在空间非均匀场中长量子轨道消失, 短量子轨道加强. 讨论了空间非均匀啁啾双色场中时间延迟对谐波和孤立阿秒脉冲产生的影响, 发现适当调整时间延迟值可以得到较大延展的光滑的超连续谐波谱, 本方案中时间延迟为t₀=1.6πup/ω₁时得到了最大延展, 通过对谐波中600次到680次(80次)谐波合成得到32 as的孤立脉冲.     

Carrier-envelope phase measurement using plasmonic-field-enhanced high-order harmonic generation of H atom in few-cycle laser pulses

We investigate the plasmonic-field-enhanced high-order harmonic generation (HHG) of H atom driven by few-cycle laser pulses, by solving the time-dependent Schrödinger equation (TDSE). Compared with the homogeneous field, HHG spectra generated by inhomogeneous field exhibit two-plateau structure. We analyze the origin of the two plateaus by using the semiclassical trajectory method. Our results from both classical and TDSE simulations show that the cutoffs of the two plateaus are dramatically affected by the carrier-envelope phase (CEP) of laser pulse in the inhomogeneous field, even for a little longer pulse. Thus, we can determine the CEP of driving laser based on the cutoff position of HHG generated in the inhomogeneous field.     

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.     

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.     

High-order harmonic generation by self-guided femtosecond laser pulses in argon

High-order harmonic generation (HHG) with 40 fs laser pulse in a quasistatic gas cell filled with argon gas was studied. Experiment results in several aspects were given and analyzed. As a result of balancing diffraction and plasma defocusing, and a large harmonic-generation cross-section, the spatial quality of the 23rd harmonic is successfully optimized with a divergence angle of 0.38 mrad. The modulation of spectral spatial divergence angle by the gas pressure was given, which was explained by the formation of plasma channel. The effect of initial laser pulse chirp on the harmonic generation and the harmonic spectral blueshift under different gas pressure were given and analyzed.     

Tunable spectral shift of high-order harmonic generation in atoms using a sinusoidally phase-modulated pulse

High-order harmonic generation (HHG) from an atom illuminated by a sinusoidally phase-modulated pulse is investigated by solving the time-dependent Schrödinger equation. The spectral shift that occurs in atomic HHG can be achieved easily using our laser pulse. It is shown that the photon energy of the generated harmonics is controllable within the range of 1 eV. The shift of the frequency peak position is rooted in the asymmetry of the rising and falling parts of the laser pulse. We also show that by varying the phase parameters in the frequency domain of the laser one can adjust and control the shift in atomic harmonic spectra.