Isolated broadband attosecond pulse generation with near- and mid-infrared driver pulses via time-gated phase matching.

We present a theoretical analysis of the time-gated phase matching (ionization gating) mechanism in high-order harmonic generation for the isolation of attosecond pulses at near-infrared and mid-infrared driver wavelengths, for both few-cycle and multi-cycle driving laser pulses. Results of our high harmonic generation and three-dimensional propagation simulations show that broadband isolated pulses spanning from the extreme-ultraviolet well into the soft X-ray region of the spectrum can be generated for both few-cycle and multi-cycle laser pulses. We demonstrate the key role of absorption and group velocity matching for generating bright, isolated, attosecond pulses using long wavelength multi-cycle pulses. Finally, we show that this technique is robust against carrier-envelope phase and peak intensity variations.

Self-amplified photo-induced gap quenching in a correlated electron material.

Capturing the dynamic electronic band structure of a correlated material presents a powerful capability for uncovering the complex couplings between the electronic and structural degrees of freedom. When combined with ultrafast laser excitation, new phases of matter can result, since far-from-equilibrium excited states are instantaneously populated. Here, we elucidate a general relation between ultrafast non-equilibrium electron dynamics and the size of the characteristic energy gap in a correlated electron material. We show that carrier multiplication via impact ionization can be one of the most important processes in a gapped material, and that the speed of carrier multiplication critically depends on the size of the energy gap. In the case of the charge-density wave material 1T-TiSe2, our data indicate that carrier multiplication and gap dynamics mutually amplify each other, which explains-on a microscopic level-the extremely fast response of this material to ultrafast optical excitation.

Zeptosecond high harmonic keV x-ray waveforms driven by midinfrared laser pulses.

We demonstrate theoretically that the temporal structure of high harmonic x-ray pulses generated with midinfrared lasers differs substantially from those generated with near-infrared pulses, especially at high photon energies. In particular, we show that, although the total width of the x-ray bursts spans femtosecond time scales, the pulse exhibits a zeptosecond structure due to the interference of high harmonic emission from multiple reencounters of the electron wave packet with the ion. Properly filtered and without any compensation of the chirp, regular subattosecond keV waveforms can be produced.

Bright, coherent, ultrafast soft X-ray harmonics spanning the water window from a tabletop light source.

We demonstrate fully phase-matched high harmonic emission spanning the water window spectral region important for nano- and bioimaging and a breadth of materials and molecular dynamics studies. We also generate the broadest bright coherent bandwidth (≈300 eV) to date from any light source, small or large, that is consistent with a single subfemtosecond burst. The harmonic photon flux at 0.5 keV is 10³ higher than demonstrated previously. This work extends bright, spatially coherent, attosecond pulses into the soft x-ray region for the first time.

Spatially coherent, phase matched, high-order harmonic EUV beams at 50 kHz.

By focusing a high repetition rate (50 kHz), compact, femtosecond laser system with low pulse energy (25 muJ) using a tight-focusing geometry, we demonstrate fully phase matched high-order harmonic generation for the first time at very high repetition rates, resulting in EUV light with full spatial coherence. The result is a practical, single-box, coherent source useful for applications in metrology, ultrafast spectroscopy, imaging and microscopy. The soft x-ray flux can be improved further by increasing the laser pulse energy and/or repetition rate.

Enhanced high harmonic generation from multiply ionized argon above 500 eV through laser pulse self-compression.

By combining laser pulse self-compression and high harmonic generation within a single waveguide, we demonstrate high harmonic emission from multiply charged ions for the first time. This approach enhances the laser intensity and counteracts ionization-induced defocusing, extending the cutoff photon energy in argon above 500 eV for the first time, with higher spectral intensity and cutoff energy than He for the same input laser parameters. This Letter demonstrates a pathway for extending high harmonic emission to very high photon energies using large, multiply charged, ions with high ionization potentials.