The rise time of intense radiation determines the maximum field strength atoms can be exposed to before their polarizability dramatically drops due to the detachment of an outer electron. Recent progress in ultrafast optics has allowed the generation of ultraintense light pulses comprising merely a few field oscillation cycles. The arising intensity gradient allows electrons to survive in their bound atomic state up to external field strengths many times higher than the binding Coulomb field and gives rise to ionization rates comparable to the light frequency, resulting in a significant extension of the frontiers of nonlinear optics and (nonrelativistic) high-field physics. Implications include the generation of coherent harmonic radiation up to kiloelectronvolt photon energies and control of the atomic dipole moment on a subfemtosecond $(1{\mathrm{f}\mathrm{s}=10}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}15}\mathrm{}\mathrm{s})$ time scale. This review presents the landmarks of the 30-odd-year evolution of ultrashort-pulse laser physics and technology culminating in the generation of intense few-cycle light pulses and discusses the impact of these pulses on high-field physics. Particular emphasis is placed on high-order harmonic emission and single subfemtosecond extreme ultraviolet/x-ray pulse generation. These as well as other strong-field processes are governed directly by the electric-field evolution, and hence their full control requires access to the (absolute) phase of the light carrier. We shall discuss routes to its determination and control, which will, for the first time, allow access to the electromagnetic fields in light waves and control of high-field interactions with never-before-achieved precision.

Intense few-cycle laser fields: Frontiers of nonlinear optics

Publisher Summary A refractive index can be increased by ion implantation by changes in density and structure, by the addition of high-polarizability impurity ions, by a reduction of the plasma effect that increases the index and that is most important in the wavelength region far from the energy gap, and by absorption changing in the index in the region of the gap, that is, via the Kramers–Kronig relation. This chapter discusses the optical properties of implanted semiconductors, electrooptic components formed by ion implantation, general principles that determine most luminescent systems, effects of implantation temperature, luminescence centers in LiF-Mg-Ti radiation dosimeters, and use of line spectra in defect studies. In the LiF system, the luminescence bands are broad, and if alternative versions of the same complex exist, they cannot be resolved from the spectra. The addition, by implantation, of ions with incomplete inner electron shells opens up new possibilities as the lattice distortions of the free-ion energy levels are strongly perturbed by the defects in the neighborhood of the ion.

Optical Effects of Ion Implantation

The authors give a brief historic perspective of the coupled mode theory. The development and applications of the theory in microwaves in early years and in optoelectronics and fiber optics in recent years are described. They then consider lossless coupling of two modes in time. Two coupled resonance circuits, or two coupled microwave or optical resonators, are the physical examples. The start-up of a parametric oscillator is another example. Then they look at the formal derivation of coupled mode theory and consider the more general case when the modes are not energy-orthogonal and the energies are not necessarily positive. A more detailed account of the nonorthogonal coupled mode theory developed in the last five years for optical waveguides is given. >

Coupled-mode theory

The coupled-mode theory (CMT) for optical waveguides is reviewed, with emphasis on the analysis of coupled optical waveguides. A brief account of the recent development of the CMT for coupled optical waveguides is given. Issues raised in the debates of the 1980’s on the merits and shortcomings of the conventional as well as the improved coupled-mode formulations are discussed. The conventional coupled-mode formulations are set up in a simple, intuitive way. The rigorous CMT is established on the basis of a linear superposition of the modes for individual waveguides. The cross-power terms appear logically as a result of modal nonorthogonality. The cross power is necessary for the self-consistency of the CMT for dissimilar waveguides. The nonorthogonal CMT, though more complicated, yields more-accurate results than the conventional orthogonal CMT for most practical applications. It also leads to the prediction of cross talk in directional couplers. The conventional orthogonal CMT is, however, reliably accurate for describing the power coupling between two weakly coupled, nearly identical waveguides. For dissimilar waveguides, a self-consistent orthogonal CMT can be derived by a redefinition of the coupling coefficients, and it predicts the coupling length and therefore the power exchange between the waveguides accurately if the two waveguides are far apart. Three typical coupler configurations—the uniform, the grating-assisted, and the tapered—are examined in detail. The accuracy, scope of validity, limitations, and extensions of the coupled-mode formulations are discussed in conjunction with each configuration. To verify the arguments in the discussions, comparisons with the exact analytical solutions and the rigorous numerical simulations are made.

Coupled-mode theory for optical waveguides: an overview

Integrated optics and new wave phenomena in optical waveguides

Coupled waveguide structures with sections of alternating phase mismatch are proposed as switched directional coupler configurations in which complete conversion of light from one guide to the other can be achieved by an electrical adjustment. These structures can be used to make electrooptic switches and amplitude modulators in integrated optics form with improved conversion and on-off ratios. Couplers with 2, 3, 4, and N sections of alternating phase mismatch are analyzed, and diagrams describing their switching characteristics are given.

Switched directional couplers with alternating &#916;&#914;

An analysis is given of folded 3-mirror laser resonators with an internal cell set at Brewster's angle. A method is described to compensate the astigmatic distortions introduced by both the internal mirror and the cell. This compensation is achieved for a specific relation between cell thickness and folding angle. It allows the formation of a tight intracavity focus as required in applications such as CW dye lasers. A discussion is given of the mode characteristics of compensated cavities and of the limitation on beam concentration set by the thickness of the Brewster cell.

Astigmatically compensated cavities for CW dye lasers

A compact formula is given for the Goos-Haenchen shifts occurring for total internal reflection of light from anisotropic media. This is used in a coupled-wave analysis of polarization conversion in thin-film waveguides deposited on optically birefringent substrates. A numerical example illustrates the considerable influence of the Goos-Haenchen shifts on the conversion length.

H. Kogelnik

Papers

Switched directional couplers with alternating ΔΒ

Astigmatically compensated cavities for CW dye lasers

A ray-optical analysis of thin-film polarization converters

A nonresonant multipass CO 2 -laser amplifier

H. Kogelnik

Papers

Switched directional couplers with alternating &#916;&#914;

Astigmatically compensated cavities for CW dye lasers

A ray-optical analysis of thin-film polarization converters

A nonresonant multipass CO 2 -laser amplifier

Switched directional couplers with alternating ΔΒ