On the cutoff law of laser induced high harmonic spectra

The currently well accepted cutoff law for laser induced high harmonic spectra predicts the cutoff energy as a linear combination of two interaction energies, the ponderomotive energy U_p and the atomic biding energy I_p, with coefficients 3.17 and 1.32, respectively. Even though, this law has been there for twenty years or so, the background information for these two constants, such as how they relate to fundamental physics and mathematics constants, is still unknown. This simple fact, keeps this cutoff law remaining as an empirical one. Based on the cutoff property of Bessel functions and the Einstein photoelectric law in the multiphoton case, we show these two coefficients are algebraic constants, 9 - 42≈ 3.34 and 22- 1 ≈ 1.83, respectively. A recent spectra calculation and an experimental measurement support the new cutoff law.     

High-order harmonic transient grating spectroscopy in a molecular jet

We study high-order harmonic generation in excited media using a four-wave-mixing-like configuration. We analyze the spatial profile of high harmonics emitted by a grating of rotationally excited molecules as a function of the pump-probe delay. We demonstrate a dramatic improvement in the contrast of the diffracted signal relative to the total high harmonic signal. This allows us to observe subtle effects in the rotational wave packet excitation such as the pump-intensity dependence of the wave packet dynamics. High harmonic transient grating spectroscopy can be extended to all forms of molecular excitation and to weak resonant excitation.     

可调谐二极管激光吸收光谱二次谐波检测方法的研究

可调谐二极管激光吸收光谱技术(TDLAS)是利用二极管激光器的波长扫描和电流调谐特性来实现痕量气体吸收曲线二次谐波检测的一种新技术,具有高灵敏、高选择性、高精度等特点。理论分析和实验结果表明:利用二次谐波检测到的信号特征除了与被测气体的吸收特征有关外,还与波长扫描参数和电流调制参数有密切的关系。通过研究不同波长的扫描参数和在功率调制参数下的二次谐波曲线,分析了它们的波形特征和稳定性,以便寻求最佳的波长扫描参数和功率调制参数,从而使二次谐波曲线的稳定性和形状达到最佳。     

Precision laser spectroscopy without optical detection

Laser spectroscopy of trapped ions is likely to be limited by the availability of suitable detection systems for fluorescence photons, especially in the infrared transition frequency domain. This restriction can be circumvented when ions are stored in a Penning trap with an additional magnetic field inhomogeneity which couples the ion oscillation frequencies to the oscillation energies in a well-defined way. In such a case, laser cooling (or heating) on the optical transition of interest can be detected electronically by a corresponding shift of the ion oscillation frequency. Thereby, the transition of interest can be determined with high accuracy using only a single stored ion and in absence of any optical detection system.     

Evaluation of jet-cooled laser spectroscopy for simplifying infrared spectra

The effect of jet cooling on the vibration-rotation spectra of several polyatomic molecules has been investigated using diode-laser absorption spectroscopy. Vibration-rotation spectra in jet expansions is considered in terms of several factors including rotational and vibrational distributions, line strengths and the rotational structure of individual bands. The diode-laser spectra of PF₃, CF₃Cl, C₃H₆, C₂H₃F, and CH₃CCH recorded in a molecular beam are examined with the above criteria.     

Multi-segment strings with exactly harmonic spectra

Conditions relating the junction locations and segment densities of a three-part string having two step discontinuities in density are found which result in exactly harmonic-type spectra for the fixed-fixed, free-free, and fixed-free and condition configurations. The parameter conformations are different in each case. An outline is given for the corresponding procedure for the four-part and N-part strings.     

Application of a laser heterodyne detector in submillimeter wave spectroscopy with a harmonic generator

Spatial sensitometry variations in a liquid crystal light valve are studied as well as signal induced noise and differences in global and local contrast ratio. The device's off state is investigated and spatial variations in the thickness of the LC layer are used to quantify the results obtained. Operation with low frequency applied ac voltages appears preferable from noise considerations, whereas operation at high frequency appears preferable for improved uniformity.     

IR diode laser spectroscopy in molecular beams

A molecular beam spectrometer for recording cold-jet spectra is described. Modulation of the molecular beam is provided by a mechanical chopper. Some results on CO, C₃H₆ and CF₃Cl are presented.     

Dye laser intracavity absorption for molecular spectroscopy

Dye laser intracavity absorption has been used to a limited extent to observe molecular spectra for about 10 years. Most workers in the field operate their laser broadband and rely only on a spectrograph to resolve the spectra and to increase signal-to-noise ratio. The overall results have not been too satisfactory, and the effect has been to discourage people from applying this technique. It is the purpose of this paper to point out the advantages to be gained by wavelength sweeping the dye laser, to describe the laser system currently being used in our laboratory, and to present some recently obtained results.     

Time resolved spectroscopy of second harmonic emission from laser irradiated microballoons

Time resolved second harmonic spectra from glass microballoons irradiated by neodymium laser pulses (∽ 10¹⁶W cm^-2, ∽ 100 ps) have been recorded with a resolution of ∽ 10 ps in time, ∽ 1 Å in wavelength and ∽ 10μm in the target plane. Intense, time and wavelength resolution-limited spots appear, whose origin has not yet been explained.     

Chirped femtosecond solitonlike laser pulse form with self-frequency shift

Ultrashort laser pulse propagation in a generalized nonconservative system is considered. Slopes appearing in the form of the third-order time derivative for narrow pulse widths, nonlinear dispersion, and self-frequency shift arising from stimulated Raman scattering are taken into account. An exact analytical solitonlike solution is presented for a femtosecond solitary laser pulse. The stability of the latter has been shown numerically by applying perturbations in amplitude and chirp, as well as adding white noise. The results indicate stability in a broad parameter range. In addition, we have also found that the solution acts as an attractor when starting with a quite arbitrary Gaussian pulse as an initial condition.     

超短脉冲高次谐波谱的截止频率分析

本文数值计算了超短脉冲(脉冲持续时间为两个光学周期)的高次谐波发射功率谱.研究结果表明,超短脉冲谐波谱的截止频率不再符合IP 3.17UP的截止规则(IP为原子电离势,UP为有质动力能).对此,本文采用"三步"模型给出了合理解释,并用小波变换验证了结果的正确性.     

相敏式激光啁啾色散光谱技术在高吸收度情况下的应用

研究了相敏式激光啁啾色散光谱法在高吸收度情况下的应用.用窄频半导体激光器作为光源,利用一工作于载波抑制模式的铌酸锂电光强度调制器调制单频激光,在单频激光两侧产生两个边频分量,并通过两边频分量产生外差干涉信号.利用外差干涉的相位波动来测量甲烷气体位于1653.7 nm附近的折射率波动,通过气体折射率与吸收系数之间的Kramers-Kronig关系计算甲烷气体浓度.传统的波长调制光谱法受限于郎伯-比尔定律,在应用于高吸收度的情况时,存在灵敏度下降的问题,甚至出现随气体浓度上升输出信号反而下降的现象.实验结果显示,相同实验条件下,波长调制光谱法的线性测量范围为38.1—1500 ppm·m,线性测量的动态范围仅为16 d B;而相敏式激光啁啾色散光谱法在很大的吸收度范围内均具有线性输出,检出限低至47.3 ppm·m,线性测量范围上限为174825 ppm·m,具有超过35 d B的动态范围.     

Optoacoustic laser spectroscopy of excited vibrational molecular states

A new detection method for absorption from excited vibrational states is suggested, based on optoacoustic detection of weak absorption in a heated gas. Using this method CO₂ laser radiation (λ=9.6 μm) absorption was investigated from excited vibrational states of CO₂, BCl₃, and BF₃ molecules.     

Influence of laser intensity in second-harmonic detection with tunable diode laser multi-pass absorption spectroscopy

Tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy （TDLAS） has been widely employed in atmospheric trace gases detection. The ratio of the second-harmonic signal to the intensity of laser beam incident to the multi-pass cell is proved to be proportional to the product of the path length and the gas concentration under any condition. A new calibration method based on this relation in TDLAS system for the measurement of trace gas concentration is proposed for the first time. The detection limit and the sensitivity of the system are below 110 and 31ppbv （parts-per-billion in volume）, respectively.     

Environmental trace gas detection using laser spectroscopy

This special issue of Applied Physics B – Lasers and Optics attempts to document the current status and trends of environmental trace gas detection through a collection of 32 invited papers motivated in part by the need for and importance of a detailed understanding of our environment. Although numerous traditional optical methods, gas chromatography, and mass spectrometry have served us extremely well in atmospheric and environmental trace gas detection, promising new sensing and precise measurement techniques based on laser spectroscopy have emerged and been successfully used in numerous applications. The concept and timing of this special issue has been stimulated to some extent by recent exciting developments of several novel technologies, such as diode and fiber lasers for the optical communications industry, diode-pumped solid-state lasers, and novel bulk and waveguide infrared nonlinear materials. These can be applied to the ultra-sensitive, highly selective detection and real-time analysis of a large number of trace gas species by means of absorption spectroscopy in the mid-infrared fingerprint region, which contains virtually all the fundamental vibrational modes of molecules. Reduction of cost and complexity makes such spectroscopic sources more universally available and user friendly to both established and new fields that include air quality, atmospheric chemistry, industrial, traffic, and rural emissions, chemical analysis and process control, and medical applications.This issue, consisting of two parts, chronicles some of the most significant and representative current research trends. It is hoped that this issue will inspire new directions to both specialists and newcomers in which to drive this exciting field and envision future applications of environmental sensing.Part I: Spectroscopic air monitoring techniques and instrumentation

Parasitic selection in intracavity laser detection spectroscopy

The origin of the parasitic structure in the spectra of multimode dye lasers in the presence of additional optical surfaces in the cavity has been investigated. Methods are proposed to diminish the influence of parasitic structures in real experiments on the results of measurements by intracavity laser spectroscopy when studying low absorption with coefficients down to ～10^-9cm^-1.     

Frequency-multiplexed gas sensing using chirped laser molecular spectroscopy

A method for frequency-multiplexed multi-sample gas sensing is presented. It enables measuring multiple samples placed simultaneously in the setup, without any optical or mechanical switching. Samples are measured using heterodyne detection and signal from each sensing path is encoded at different carrier frequency. Subsequently, a signal from particular sample is retrieved through heterodyne beatnote demodulation at unique frequency. This technique is particularly suitable for real-time calibration of the sensor through a sequential (or simultaneous) detection of three signals: from unknown sample, reference sample and baseline. Basic setup is demonstrated and proof-of-concept experiments are presented. Very good agreement with spectra measured using standard tunable diode absorption spectroscopy is obtained.