Extreme ultraviolet interferometry measurements with high-order harmonics

We demonstrate that high-order harmonics generated by short, intense laser pulses in gases provide an interesting radiation source for extreme ultraviolet interferometry, since they are tunable, coherent, of short pulse duration, and simple to manipulate. Harmonics from the 9th to the 15th are used to measure the thickness of an aluminum layer. The 11th harmonic is used to determine the spatial distribution of the electron density of a plasma produced by a 300-ps laser. Electronic densities higher than 2-10(20)electrons/cm>(3) are measured.     

Photoelectron spectroscopy of two-photon ionisation of rare-gas atoms by multiple high order harmonics

Two-photon ionisation processes of rare-gas atoms produced by a superposition of multiple high order harmonics are studied by using a photoelectron spectroscopy technique. Second-order nonlinearity is confirmed by comparing the intensity-dependent photoelectron yields between the linear and nonlinear processes, and the cross sections of these processes are estimated. We also demonstrate the autocorrelation measurement of harmonic envelopes as a preliminary step toward characterisation of an attosecond pulse train. PACS 32.80.Fb; 32.80.Wr; 42.65.-k     

Higher order harmonics suppression in extreme ultraviolet and soft x-ray

The extreme ultraviolet and soft x-ray sources are widely used in various domains. Suppressing higher order harmonics and improving spectral purity are significant. This paper describes a novel method of higher order harmonics suppression with single order diffraction gratings in extreme ultraviolet and soft x-ray. The principle of harmonic suppression with single order diffraction grating is described, and an extreme ultraviolet and soft x-ray non-harmonics grating monochromator is designed based on the single order diffraction grating. The performance is simulated by an optical design software. The emergent beams of a monochromator with different gratings are measured by a transmission grating spectrometer. The results show that the single order diffraction grating can suppress higher order harmonics effectively, and it is expected to be widely used in synchrotron radiation, diagnostics of laser induced plasma, and astrophysics.     

Optimization of the wave front of high order harmonics

We present a full optimization of the high harmonics wave front owing to the use of a soft X-ray Hartmann sensor. The sensor was calibrated using a high harmonic source with an accuracy of λ/50 root-mean-square (rms) with λ around 30 nm. We observed a high harmonic wave front of λ/7 rms, which is two times the diffraction-limit, astigmatism being the dominant aberration for every condition of generation. By clipping slightly the unfocused high harmonic beam, it is possible to produce a diffraction-limited beam containing approximately 90% of the incident energy.     

Generation of high order optical harmonics from solid surfaces

Received: 26 November 1998     

Ramsey-type spectroscopy with high-order harmonics

We present an experiment where Ramsey-type spectroscopy is applied to autoionizing states of krypton by using the ninth harmonic (88 nm) of a femtosecond Ti:sapphire laser. The ionization process, detected by an electron-energy spectrometer, shows the characteristic quantum interference pattern. The behavior of the fringe contrast compares favorably with a simple essential-state model, whose parameters have been taken from the literature. The experiment shows the feasibility of high-resolution spectroscopy in the extreme ultraviolet by using high-order laser harmonics.     

Extreme ultraviolet radiation for coherent diffractive imaging with high spatial resolution

Using different noble gases,argon,neon and helium,we are able to generate by high-harmonic generation(HHG) just a few harmonic orders in the spectral range 10-35 nm with a photon flux of～2.10 12 photons/(harmonic cm2 s) for argon and～10 10 photons/(harmonic cm2 s) for helium. The few-harmonic-order radiation is used for coherent diffractive imaging directly without any spectral filter. A spatial resolution of～100 nm is achieved using a～30 nm HHG source.     

Visible-infrared two-dimensional Fourier-transform spectroscopy

We report on a new class of optical multidimensional Fourier-transform spectroscopy associated with a visible excitation-infrared emission configuration, in which the emitted field results from second-order optical nonlinearities. This configuration is demonstrated on a phase-matched sample of known nonlinear response by coherent measurement of the mid-infrared field emitted after a femtosecond visible double-pulse excitation.     

Time-resolved measurements of high order harmonics confined by polarization gating

We investigate the temporal confinement of high order harmonic pulses generated by a femtosecond (fs) infrared (IR) pulse with a time varying polarization. We use a set of two birefringent quartz plates to modulate the IR polarization. It produces a short temporal gate of linear polarization where harmonics are efficiently generated during a small fraction of the IR pulse. By rotating one of the plates, the gate width can be continuously varied between 70 fs down to 7 fs. The XUV pulse duration is measured by cross-correlation with a probe IR pulse of 12 fs. When the gate width is decreased, a clear temporal confinement of the XUV emission is observed through the cross correlation signal. This experiment is the first direct experimental evidence in the temporal domain that the polarization gating technique can be used to significantly shorten the harmonic pulse duration. PACS 32.80.Wr; 42.65.Ky; 42.65.Re     

基于高次谐波产生的极紫外偏振涡旋光

突破传统涡旋光场束缚,发展短波极紫外涡旋光场是实现阿秒脉冲偏振控制的有效途径.本研究利用自制的平场光栅光谱仪和超快时间保持的单色仪,以800 nm,35 fs高斯或具有偏振奇点的涡旋光脉冲驱动诱导氩原子产生高次谐波,分别获得相应的高次谐波光谱以及谐波谱单阶光源的分布.实验结果表明,基于高次谐波产生实现近红外波段的涡旋光束特性转移到极紫外波段,优化后的极紫外涡旋可以实现每秒108光子数输出.同时发现极紫外波段的涡旋场和高斯场高次谐波产生具有相似相位匹配机制.基于高次谐波产生的极紫外波段的偏振涡旋光为探究和操控原子分子量子态的含时演化动力学以及形成阿秒矢量光束提供了重要的方法和技术手段.     

Fourier-transform sum-frequency surface vibrational spectroscopy with femtosecond pulses

We present a Fourier-transform spectroscopic technique for investigation of surfaces and interfaces based on IR-visible sum-frequency generation with femtosecond light pulses. The observed spectrum has a resolution that is independent of the input pulse characteristics.     

Fourier-transform spectroscopy using liquid-crystal technology

We report the use of a ferroelectric liquid-crystal (FLC) mask as an optical encoder for development of a solid-state Fourier-transform spectrometer. For this demonstration a 1x64 element array was striped and used as a 1x4 element device. The device intersected dispersed radiation and encoded each spectral component with a carrier signal by applying half-wave potential to each of the four striped (1x16) FLC elements, which varied the transmitted amplitude of the light from 0.03% to 28% of full scale. The light was spectrally recombined and imaged onto a photomultiplier and the resulting carriers (and their amplitudes) detected by Fourier transformation of the time-varying signal. Spectra of colored-glass filters were taken to demonstrate the possibilities of the instrument.     

Fourier-transform infrared emission spectroscopy of BO

The Fourier-transform infrared emission spectra of BO were recorded using a Bruker IFS 125 HR spectrometer. The observed spectrum of BO in the 1200-2100 cm⁻¹ region contains three bands: the fundamental bands of ¹¹BO and ¹⁰BO and a hot band of ¹¹BO with band origins measured to be 1861.9242(97), 1915.3071(09) and 1838.3773(68) cm⁻¹, respectively.     

Fourier-transform infrared derivative spectroscopy with an improved signal-to-noise ratio

Infrared derivative spectroscopy is a useful technique for finding peaks hidden in broad spectral features. A data acquisition technique is shown that will improve the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) derivative spectroscopy. Typically, in a FTIR measurement one samples each point for the same time interval. The effect of using a graded time interval is studied. The simulations presented show that the SNR of first-derivative FTIR spectroscopy will improve by 15% and that the SNR of second-derivative FTIR will improve by 34%.     

Ultrafast nonequilibrium Fourier-transform two-dimensional infrared spectroscopy

We present what we believe to be the first implementation of nonequilibrium two-dimensional IR spectroscopy (2DIR) combining electronic excitation within the Fourier transform (FT) approach. Nonequilibrium 2DIR spectra of Mn2(CO)10 and its photoproducts are obtained in two modalities: photoexcitation at 400 nm, either before a 2DIR probe or during the waiting time of the FT 2DIR measurement. Extending FT 2DIR to nonequilibrium systems offers insight into complex condensed-phase reaction dynamics.     

Tunable light sources based on high harmonics generation for time-resolved VUV spectroscopy

The project of set-up for time resolved femtosecond VUV spectroscopy, which is based on a high harmonic generation source and a VUV monochromator is presented. We discuss the generation conditions of quasi-continuous VUV spectrum via HHG in Ar using the intense chirped IR fundamental pulse and the relatively weak second harmonic of IR fundamental. The desired narrow VUV spectral range is selected by time compensated double monochromator with concave spherical diffraction gratings. PACS 42.65.Ky; 42.79.Dj; 78.47.+p; 39.30.+w     

Phase-matching for generation of few high order harmonics in a semi-infinite gas cell

Small phase-mismatch between the fundamental and high order polarization in the cut-off region, allowing macroscopic phase-matching to be satisfied for these harmonics can be used for generation of extreme ultraviolet radiation with high flux, high coherence and few harmonic orders in a semi-infinite argon gas cell.     

Fourier-transform microwave spectroscopy of N-methylaniline

The jet-cooled Fourier-transform microwave spectrum of N-methylaniline (C₆H₅-NHCH₃) was recorded in the region of 10-26 GHz, and was analyzed to determine rotational constants and nuclear quadrupole coupling constants. Furthermore, a Coriolis-like coupling parameter characterizing an interaction between an internal rotation of a methyl group and an overall rotation was also determined from A-E splittings observed in pure rotational transitions with high K_a values. The Coriolis-like coupling parameter permitted the determination of the barrier to internal rotation of the methyl group which was found to be 975 cm⁻¹.