Showing papers on "High harmonic generation published in 2020"

Nonlinear optics at all-dielectric nanoantennas and metasurfaces

Abstract: Freed from phase-matching constraints, plasmonic metasurfaces have contributed significantly to the control of the optical nonlinearity and enhancing the nonlinear generation efficiency by engineering subwavelength meta-atoms. However, the high dissipative losses and the inevitable thermal heating limit their applicability in nonlinear nanophotonics. All-dielectric metasurfaces, supporting both electric and magnetic Mie-type resonances in their nanostructures, have appeared as a promising alternative to nonlinear plasmonics. High-index dielectric nanostructures, allowing additional magnetic resonances, can induce magnetic nonlinear effects, which along with electric nonlinearities increase the nonlinear conversion efficiency. In addition, low dissipative losses and high damage thresholds provide an extra degree of freedom for operating at high pump intensities, resulting in a considerable enhancement of the nonlinear processes. In this review, we discuss the current state-of-the-art in the intensely developing area of all-dielectric nonlinear nanostructures and metasurfaces, including the role of Mie modes, Fano resonances and anapole moments for harmonic generation, wave mixing, and ultrafast optical switching. Furthermore, we review the recent progress in the nonlinear phase and wavefront control using all-dielectric metasurfaces. We discuss techniques to realize all-dielectric metasurfaces for multifunctional applications and generation of second-order nonlinear processes from CMOS compatible materials.

Attosecond science based on high harmonic generation from gases and solids.

Abstract: Recent progress in high power ultrafast short-wave and mid-wave infrared lasers has enabled gas-phase high harmonic generation (HHG) in the water window and beyond, as well as the demonstration of HHG in condensed matter. In this Perspective, we discuss the recent advancements and future trends in generating and characterizing soft X-ray pulses from gas-phase HHG and extreme ultraviolet (XUV) pulses from solid-state HHG. Then, we discuss their current and potential usage in time-resolved study of electron and nuclear dynamics in atomic, molecular and condensed matters.

Attosecond Pulse-shaping using a seeded free-electron laser

Abstract: Attosecond pulses are fundamental for the investigation of valence and core-electron dynamics on their natural timescale. At present the reproducible generation and characterisation of attosecond waveforms has been demonstrated only through the process of high-order harmonic generation. Several methods for the shaping of attosecond waveforms have been proposed, including metallic filters, multilayer mirrors and manipulation of the driving field. However, none of these approaches allow for the flexible manipulation of the temporal characteristics of the attosecond waveforms, and they suffer from the low conversion efficiency of the high-order harmonic generation process. Free Electron Lasers, on the contrary, deliver femtosecond, extreme ultraviolet and X-ray pulses with energies ranging from tens of $\mathrm{\mu}$J to a few mJ. Recent experiments have shown that they can generate sub-fs spikes, but with temporal characteristics that change shot-to-shot. Here we show the first demonstration of reproducible generation of high energy ($\mathrm{\mu}$J level) attosecond waveforms using a seeded Free Electron Laser. We demonstrate amplitude and phase manipulation of the harmonic components of an attosecond pulse train in combination with a novel approach for its temporal reconstruction. The results presented here open the way to perform attosecond time-resolved experiments with Free Electron Lasers.

Laser picoscopy of valence electrons in solids

Abstract: Valence electrons contribute a small fraction of the total electron density of materials, but they determine their essential chemical, electronic and optical properties. Strong laser fields can probe electrons in valence orbitals1–3 and their dynamics4–6 in the gas phase. Previous laser studies of solids have associated high-harmonic emission7–12 with the spatial arrangement of atoms in the crystal lattice13,14 and have used terahertz fields to probe interatomic potential forces15. Yet the direct, picometre-scale imaging of valence electrons in solids has remained challenging. Here we show that intense optical fields interacting with crystalline solids could enable the imaging of valence electrons at the picometre scale. An intense laser field with a strength that is comparable to the fields keeping the valence electrons bound in crystals can induce quasi-free electron motion. The harmonics of the laser field emerging from the nonlinear scattering of the valence electrons by the crystal potential contain the critical information that enables picometre-scale, real-space mapping of the valence electron structure. We used high harmonics to reconstruct images of the valence potential and electron density in crystalline magnesium fluoride and calcium fluoride with a spatial resolution of about 26 picometres. Picometre-scale imaging of valence electrons could enable direct probing of the chemical, electronic, optical and topological properties of materials. Laser-generated high-harmonic emission is used to image the valence potential and electron density in magnesium fluoride and calcium fluoride at the picometre scale, enabling direct probing of material properties.

Attosecond pulse shaping using a seeded free-electron laser.

Abstract: Attosecond pulses are central to the investigation of valence- and core-electron dynamics on their natural timescales1–3. The reproducible generation and characterization of attosecond waveforms has been demonstrated so far only through the process of high-order harmonic generation4–7. Several methods for shaping attosecond waveforms have been proposed, including the use of metallic filters8,9, multilayer mirrors10 and manipulation of the driving field11. However, none of these approaches allows the flexible manipulation of the temporal characteristics of the attosecond waveforms, and they suffer from the low conversion efficiency of the high-order harmonic generation process. Free-electron lasers, by contrast, deliver femtosecond, extreme-ultraviolet and X-ray pulses with energies ranging from tens of microjoules to a few millijoules12,13. Recent experiments have shown that they can generate subfemtosecond spikes, but with temporal characteristics that change shot-to-shot14–16. Here we report reproducible generation of high-energy (microjoule level) attosecond waveforms using a seeded free-electron laser17. We demonstrate amplitude and phase manipulation of the harmonic components of an attosecond pulse train in combination with an approach for its temporal reconstruction. The results presented here open the way to performing attosecond time-resolved experiments with free-electron lasers. Generation of intense attosecond waveforms with independently controllable amplitude and phase is performed by using a seeded free-electron laser.

Attosecond spectral singularities in solid-state high-harmonic generation

Abstract: Strong-field-driven electric currents in condensed-matter systems are opening new frontiers in petahertz electronics. In this regime, new challenges are arising as the roles of band structure and coherent electron–hole dynamics have yet to be resolved. Here, by using high-harmonic generation spectroscopy, we reveal the underlying attosecond dynamics that dictates the temporal evolution of carriers in multi-band solid-state systems. We demonstrate that when the electron–hole relative velocity approaches zero, enhanced constructive interference leads to the appearance of spectral caustics in the high-harmonic generation spectrum. We introduce the role of the dynamical joint density of states and identify its mapping into the spectrum, which exhibits singularities at the spectral caustics. By studying these singularities, we probe the structure of multiple unpopulated high conduction bands. High-harmonic waves are generated from a MgO crystal under experimental conditions where the simple semi-classical analysis fails. High-harmonic generation spectroscopy directly probes the strong-field attosecond dynamics over multiple bands.

Full-Duplex Nonreciprocal Beam Steering by Time-Modulated Phase-Gradient Metasurfaces

Abstract: Recent research on time-modulated metamaterials has revealed physical phenomena and applications such as optical harmonic generation, parametric amplification, frequency mixing, and nonreciprocity. From their study of time-modulated twin meta-atoms, from concept to experimental implementation, the authors realize a nonreciprocal beam-steering transmissive phase-gradient metasurface. Unlike other recent proposals, here the transmitted wave has the same frequency as the incident wave, while all undesired time harmonics are significantly suppressed. This promotes high conversion efficiency, which is paramount for practical applications such as satellite or cellular wireless communication.

Non-perturbative terahertz high-harmonic generation in the three-dimensional Dirac semimetal Cd3As2.

Abstract: Harmonic generation is a general characteristic of driven nonlinear systems, and serves as an efficient tool for investigating the fundamental principles that govern the ultrafast nonlinear dynamics. Here, we report on terahertz-field driven high-harmonic generation in the three-dimensional Dirac semimetal Cd3As2 at room temperature. Excited by linearly-polarized multi-cycle terahertz pulses, the third-, fifth-, and seventh-order harmonic generation is very efficient and detected via time-resolved spectroscopic techniques. The observed harmonic radiation is further studied as a function of pump-pulse fluence. Their fluence dependence is found to deviate evidently from the expected power-law dependence in the perturbative regime. The observed highly non-perturbative behavior is reproduced based on our analysis of the intraband kinetics of the terahertz-field driven nonequilibrium state using the Boltzmann transport theory. Our results indicate that the driven nonlinear kinetics of the Dirac electrons plays the central role for the observed highly nonlinear response. The mechanism and scaling of high harmonic generation in solids is a highly compelling ongoing area of research. Here the authors show a non-perturbative behavior of HHG in terahertz regime from 3D Dirac semimetal, Cd3As2, at room temperature, and reveal the underlying nonlinear kinetics.

Chip-based self-referencing using integrated lithium niobate waveguides

Abstract: The measurement and stabilization of the carrier–envelope offset frequency fCEO via self-referencing is paramount for optical frequency comb generation, which has revolutionized precision frequency metrology, spectroscopy, and optical clocks. Over the past decade, the development of chip-scale platforms has enabled compact integrated waveguides for supercontinuum generation. However, there is a critical need for an on-chip self-referencing system that is adaptive to different pump wavelengths, requires low pulse energy, and does not require complicated processing. Here, we demonstrate efficient fCEO stabilization of a modelocked laser with only 107 pJ of pulse energy via self-referencing in an integrated lithium niobate waveguide. We realize an f-2f interferometer through second-harmonic generation and subsequent supercontinuum generation in a single dispersion-engineered waveguide with a stabilization performance equivalent to a conventional off-chip module. The fCEO beatnote is measured over a pump wavelength range of 70 nm. We theoretically investigate our system using a single nonlinear envelope equation with contributions from both second- and third-order nonlinearities. Our modeling reveals rich ultrabroadband nonlinear dynamics and confirms that the initial second-harmonic generation followed by supercontinuum generation with the remaining pump is responsible for the generation of a strong fCEO signal as compared to a traditional f-2f interferometer. Our technology provides a highly simplified system that is robust, low in cost, and adaptable for precision metrology for use outside a research laboratory.

High-harmonic generation from spin-polarised defects in solids

Abstract: The generation of high-order harmonics in gases enabled to probe the attosecond electron dynamics in atoms and molecules with unprecedented resolution. Extending these techniques to solids, which were originally developed for atomic and molecular gases, requires a fundamental understanding of the physics that has been partially addressed theoretically. Here, we employ time-dependent density-functional theory to investigate how the electron dynamics resulting in high-harmonic emission in monolayer hexagonal boron nitride is affected by the presence of vacancies. We show how these realistic spin-polarised defects modify the harmonic emission and demonstrate that important differences exist between harmonics from a pristine solid and a defected solid. In particular, we found that the different spin channels are affected differently by the presence of the spin-polarised point defect. Moreover, the localisation of the wavefunction, the geometry of the defect, and the electron–electron interaction are all crucial ingredients to describe high-harmonic generation in defected solids.

High Harmonic Generation in a Correlated Electron System.

Abstract: High harmonic generation in crystalline solids has been examined so far on the basis of one-body energy-band structures arising from electron itineracy in a periodic potential Here, we show the emergence of high harmonic generation signals which are attributed to the dynamics of many-body states in a low-dimensional correlated electron system An interacting fermion model and its effective pseudospin model on a one-dimensional dimer-type lattice are analyzed Observed high harmonic generation signals in a spontaneously symmetry-broken state, where charge densities are polarized inside of dimer units, show threshold behavior with respect to light amplitude and are interpreted in terms of tunneling and recombination of kink-antikink excitations in an electric field

Imperfect Recollisions in High-Harmonic Generation in Solids.

Abstract: We theoretically investigate high-harmonic generation in hexagonal boron nitride with linearly polarized laser pulses. We show that imperfect recollisions between electron-hole pairs in the crystal give rise to an electron-hole-pair polarization energy that leads to a double-peak structure in the subcycle emission profiles. An extended recollision model (ERM) is developed that allows for such imperfect recollisions, as well as effects related to Berry connections, Berry curvatures, and transition-dipole phases. The ERM illuminates the distinct spectrotemporal characteristics of harmonics emitted parallel and perpendicularly to the laser polarization direction. Imperfect recollisions are a general phenomenon and a manifestation of the spatially delocalized nature of the real-space wave packet; they arise naturally in systems with large Berry curvatures, or in any system driven by elliptically polarized light.

Determination of Electron Band Structure using Temporal Interferometry.

Abstract: We propose an all-optical method to directly reconstruct the band structure of semiconductors. Our scheme is based on the temporal Young's interferometer realized by high harmonic generation with a few-cycle laser pulse. As a time-energy domain interferometer, temporal interference encodes the band structure into the fringe in the energy domain. The relation between the band structure and the emitted harmonic frequencies is established. This enables us to retrieve the band structure from the spectrum of high harmonic generation with a single-shot measurement. Our scheme paves the way to study matters under ambient conditions and to track the ultrafast modification of band structures.

Origin of strong-field-induced low-order harmonic generation in amorphous quartz

Abstract: Kerr-type nonlinearities form the basis for our physical understanding of nonlinear optical phenomena in condensed matter, such as self-focusing, solitary waves and wave mixing1–3 In strong fields, they are complemented by higher-order nonlinearities that enable high-harmonic generation, which is currently understood as the interplay of light-driven intraband charge dynamics and interband recombination4–6 Remarkably, the nonlinear response emerging from the subcycle injection dynamics of electrons into the conduction band, that is from ionization, has been almost completely overlooked in solids and only partially considered in the gas phase7–10 Here, we reveal this strong-field-induced nonlinearity in a-SiO2 as a typical wide-bandgap dielectric by means of time-resolved, low-order wave-mixing experiments, and show that, close to the material damage threshold, the so far unexplored injection current provides the leading contribution The sensitivity of the harmonic emission to the subcycle ionization dynamics offers an original approach to characterize the evolution of laser-induced plasma formation in optical microprocessing Strong-field-induced nonlinearities from the injection of electrons into the conduction band contribute to harmonic generation in amorphous quartz Close to the damage threshold, they dominate over intraband and interband contributions

Propagation Induced Dephasing in Semiconductor High-Harmonic Generation.

Abstract: The influence of propagation on the nonperturbative high-harmonic features in long-wavelength strong pulse excited semiconductors is studied using a fully microscopic approach For sample lengths exceeding the wavelength of the exciting light, it is shown that the propagation effectively acts as a very strong additional dephasing that reduces the relative height of the emission plateau up to six orders of magnitude This propagation induced dephasing clarifies the need to use extremely short polarization decay times for the quantitative analysis of experimental observations

Cooper minimum of high-order harmonic spectra from an MgO crystal in an ultrashort laser pulse

Abstract: The crystal harmonic spectra of MgO from an ultrashort midinfrared laser pulse are shown to exhibit the Cooper minimum characteristic. This study could potentially be useful for retrieving the band information of solid materials and all-optical reconstruction of the band structure through high-order harmonic generation.

Effect of interband polarization on a solid's high-order-harmonic generation just belowthe band gap

Abstract: A series of theoretical and experimental results has proved that harmonics below/above the band gap are produced mainly by the intraband current/interband polarization for solids in strong mid-infrared laser pulses. However, which mechanism dominates the harmonic process is still debated. In this work, based on simulating high-order-harmonic generation from an MgO crystal in a linearly polarized mid-infrared laser by solving semiconductor Bloch equations, we demonstrate that harmonics just below the band gap originate from the interference between intraband and interband currents. Furthermore, it is found that intensities of harmonics just below the band gap are apparently enhanced with an increase in the incident laser’s strength. By analyzing the band dispersion and the transition dipole moment of the 001-cut MgO crystal, this can be attributed to the interband polarization between two conduction bands.

27 W 2.1 µm OPCPA system for coherent soft X-ray generation operating at 10 kHz

Abstract: We developed a high power optical parametric chirped-pulse amplification (OPCPA) system at 2.1 µm harnessing a 500 W Yb:YAG thin disk laser as the only pump and signal generation source. The OPCPA system operates at 10 kHz with a single pulse energy of up to 2.7 mJ and pulse duration of 30 fs. The maximum average output power of 27 W sets a new record for an OPCPA system in the 2 µm wavelength region. The soft X-ray continuum generated through high harmonic generation with this driver laser can extend to around 0.55 keV, thus covering the entire water window (284 eV - 543 eV). With a repetition rate still enabling pump-probe experiments on solid samples, the system can be used for many applications.

Strain effect on the orientation-dependent harmonic spectrum of monolayer aluminum nitride

Abstract: In this study, we theoretically investigate the strain effect on the orientation-dependent high-order harmonic generation (HHG) of monolayer aluminum nitride (AlN) by solving the multiband semiconductor Bloch equations in strong laser fields. Our simulations denote that the efficiency of the orientation-dependent HHG is considerably enhanced when a 15% biaxial tensile strain is applied to AlN, which is attributed to the downshifting energy level of the conduction band. Furthermore, the odd-even feature in the orientation-dependent high harmonic spectra owing to the strain is considerably different when compared with that in the case without strain. The enhanced quantum interference between different energy bands in strained AlN around the Γ-M direction is responsible for the observed odd-even distributions of the orientation-dependent HHG. This study helps to better understand the HHG in solids by tuning their electronic structures.

High efficiency ultrafast water-window harmonic generation for single-shot soft X-ray spectroscopy

Abstract: Fully coherent, soft X-ray attosecond pulses are now available through high-order harmonic generation (HHG); however, the output energy is insufficient for various applications, such as attosecond-scale soft X-ray nonlinear experiments, the seeding of soft X-ray free-electron lasers, attosecond-pump-attosecond-probe spectroscopies, and single-shot imaging. In this paper, we combine a newly developed TW class mid-infrared femtosecond laser and a loose focusing geometry for HHG. A soft X-ray harmonic beam up to the water window region is demonstrated, which is more than 100 times intense compared to previous works. We achieve a high conversion efficiency, low beam divergence and a significantly reduced medium gas pressure. As the first application, we demonstrate near edge X-ray absorption fine structure experiments with clear fine absorption spectra near the K- and L-edges observed. The robust energy scaling method on HHG opens the door for demonstrating single-shot absorption spectrum and live-cell imaging with a femtosecond time resolution. While high harmonic x-ray sources are well established sources for ultrafast spectroscopy, the decrease in efficiency towards higher energies limits their application. Here, a loose-focused, TW mid-IR laser is used to generate high harmonic soft x-rays with pulse energies of a few nJ in the water window and easy energy scaling.

High-contrast, intense single-cycle pulses from an all thin-solid-plate setup

Abstract: High-contrast, intense single-cycle pulses are highly desirable tools in ultrafast science, enabling highest temporal resolution, pushing matter to extreme conditions, and serving as drivers in petahertz electronics. In this Letter, we use thin solid plates in a double multi-plate supercontinuum configuration, delivering a broadband spectrum spanning from $\sim\!{400}$∼400 to $\sim\!{1000}\;{\rm nm}$∼1000nm at the $ - {20}\;{\rm dB}$−20dB intensity level to produce a single-cycle pulse. We show that the spectral broadening by self-phase modulation with few-cycle pulses is more suitable for compression than the single-cycle limit than with multi-cycle pulses. The pulses are compressed to 2.6 fs pulses, close to the transform limit of 2.55 fs, with an energy of 0.235 mJ. They exhibit an excellent power stability of 0.5% rms over 3 h and a beam profile. The obtained single-cycle pulses can be utilized in many applications, such as generation of isolated attosecond pulses via high-order harmonic generation, investigation of ultrafast phenomena with extreme temporal resolution, or high-intensity laser-solid experiments.

Nonlinear plasmon-exciton coupling enhances sum-frequency generation from a hybrid metal/semiconductor nanostructure.

Abstract: The integration of metallic plasmonic nanoantennas with quantum emitters can dramatically enhance coherent harmonic generation, often resulting from the coupling of fundamental plasmonic fields to higher-energy, electronic or excitonic transitions of quantum emitters. The ultrafast optical dynamics of such hybrid plasmon-emitter systems have rarely been explored. Here, we study those dynamics by interferometrically probing nonlinear optical emission from individual porous gold nanosponges infiltrated with zinc oxide (ZnO) emitters. Few-femtosecond time-resolved photoelectron emission microscopy reveals multiple long-lived localized plasmonic hot spot modes, at the surface of the randomly disordered nanosponges, that are resonant in a broad spectral range. The locally enhanced plasmonic near-field couples to the ZnO excitons, enhancing sum-frequency generation from individual hot spots and boosting resonant excitonic emission. The quantum pathways of the coupling are uncovered from a two-dimensional spectrum correlating fundamental plasmonic excitations to nonlinearly driven excitonic emissions. Our results offer new opportunities for enhancing and coherently controlling optical nonlinearities by exploiting nonlinear plasmon-quantum emitter coupling.

29.9 A 4×4 Distributed Multi-Layer Oscillator Network for Harmonic Injection and THz Beamforming with 14dBm EIRP at 416GHz in a Lensless 65nm CMOS IC

Abstract: Integrated high-power THz arrays with beamforming ability can enable new applications in communication, sensing, imaging, and spectroscopy [1]. However, due to the limited power-generation capability of a single source above the device f max [2], efficient spatial power combining from multiple coherent sources becomes necessary to generate mW level of power. To create this 2D array of distributed frequency and phase-locked sources, prior works have shown central LO-signal distribution with local harmonic upconversion [3]. However, this requires high power consumption in the LO distribution. In addition, phase-matching with PVT variations across the sources at the harmonic-radiating THz frequency can be quite challenging. A small ∆θ perturbation at the fundamental frequency translates to N∆θ at the radiated Nth harmonic, thus corrupting the array beam pattern. Another method to synchronize multiple distributed radiating sources (ƛ/2 spaced at Nfo) is through a mutual coupling network with active/passive elements in a coupled oscillator array [4], [5]. However, the locking range in these methods is typically narrow (∆f locking ~ f 0 /20 to f 0 /10) and PVT variations can easily cause desynchronization. In such a network, each cell is a self-sustaining oscillator, and the coupling network tries to establish injection signals to force synchronization between these individual free-running oscillators. In this paper, we used a 2D oscillating network with negative G m (–G m ) cells at each node that do not oscillate individually but only collectively, establishing a robust frequency and phase distribution network across the chip for high THz-power generation. By making this network as the lowest layer, we can now separate the locking mechanism and the power-generation sources. This avoids loading and sub-optimal operation of the power sources. The distributed oscillating network at the lowest layer operates at 69.3GHz, and multi-layer local harmonic generation produces a radiated power of −3dBm and +14dBm EIRP at 416GHz in a 4×4 array.

High resolution time- and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy with 11 eV laser pulses.

Abstract: Performing time- and angle-resolved photoemission (tr-ARPES) spectroscopy at high momenta necessitates extreme ultraviolet laser pulses, which are typically produced via high harmonic generation (HHG). Despite recent advances, HHG-based setups still require large pulse energies (from hundreds of μJ to mJ) and their energy resolution is limited to tens of meV. Here, we present a novel 11 eV tr-ARPES setup that generates a flux of 5 × 1010 photons/s and achieves an unprecedented energy resolution of 16 meV. It can be operated at high repetition rates (up to 250 kHz) while using input pulse energies down to 3 µJ. We demonstrate these unique capabilities by simultaneously capturing the energy and momentum resolved dynamics in two well-separated momentum space regions of a charge density wave material ErTe3. This novel setup offers the opportunity to study the non-equilibrium band structure of solids with exceptional energy and time resolutions at high repetition rates.

The X-Ray Emission Effectiveness of Plasma Mirrors: Reexamining Power-Law Scaling for Relativistic High-Order Harmonic Generation

Abstract: Ultrashort pulsed lasers provide uniquely detailed access to the ultrafast dynamics of physical, chemical, and biological systems, but only a handful of wavelengths are directly produced by solid-state lasers, necessitating efficient high-power frequency conversion. Relativistic plasma mirrors generate broadband power-law spectra, that may span the gap between petawatt-class infrared laser facilities and x-ray free-electron lasers; despite substantial theoretical work the ultimate efficiency of this relativistic high-order-harmonic generation remains unclear. We show that the coherent radiation emitted by plasma mirrors follows a power-law distribution of energy over frequency with an exponent that, even in the ultrarelativistic limit, strongly depends on the ratio of laser intensity to plasma density and exceeds the frequently quoted value of −8/3 over a wide range of parameters. The coherent synchrotron emission model, when adequately corrected for the finite width of emitting electron bunches, is not just valid for p-polarized light and thin foil targets, but generally describes relativistic harmonic generation, including at normal incidence and with finite-gradient plasmas. Our numerical results support the ω−4/3 scaling of the synchrotron emission model as a limiting efficiency of the process under most conditions. The highest frequencies that can be generated with this scaling are usually restricted by the width of the emitting electron bunch rather than the Lorentz factor of the fastest electrons. The theoretical scaling relations developed here suggest, for example, that with a 20-PW 800-nm driving laser, 1 TW/harmonic can be produced for 1-keV photons.

High-harmonic generation from metasurfaces empowered by bound states in the continuum.

Abstract: The concept of optical bound states in the continuum (BICs) underpins the existence of strongly localized waves embedded into the radiation spectrum that can enhance the electromagnetic fields in subwavelength photonic structures. Early studies of optical BICs in waveguides and photonic crystals uncovered their topological properties, and the concept of quasi-BIC metasurfaces facilitated applications of strong light-matter interactions to biosensing, lasing, and low-order nonlinear processes. Here we employ BIC-empowered dielectric metasurfaces to generate efficiently high optical harmonics up to the 11th order. We optimize a BIC mode for the first few harmonics and observe a transition between perturbative and nonperturbative nonlinear regimes. We also suggest a general strategy for designing subwavelength structures with strong resonances and nonperturbative nonlinearities. Our work bridges the fields of perturbative and nonperturbative nonlinear optics on the subwavelength scale.

Efficient and highly tunable second-harmonic generation in Z-cut periodically poled lithium niobate nanowaveguides.

Abstract: Thin-film lithium-niobate-on-insulator (LNOI) has emerged as a superior integrated-photonics platform for linear, nonlinear, and electro-optics. Here we combine quasi-phase-matching, dispersion engineering, and tight mode confinement to realize nonlinear parametric processes with both high efficiency and wide wavelength tunability. On a millimeter-long, Z-cut LNOI waveguide, we demonstrate efficient (1900±500%W-1cm-2) and highly tunable (-1.71nm/K) second-harmonic generation from 1530 to 1583 nm by type-0 quasi-phase-matching. Our technique is applicable to optical harmonic generation, quantum light sources, frequency conversion, and many other photonic information processes across visible to mid-IR spectral bands.

Generation of above-terawatt 1.5-cycle visible pulses at 1 kHz by post-compression in a hollow fiber

Abstract: We report on the generation of 6.1 mJ, 3.8 fs pulses by the compression of a kilohertz Ti:sapphire laser in a large-aperture long hollow fiber. In order to find optimal conditions for spectral broadening at high pulse energies, we explore different parameter ranges where ionization or the Kerr effect dominates. After identifying the optimum parameter settings, large spectral broadening at high waveguide transmission is obtained. The intense 1.5-cycle pulses are used for high-harmonic generation in argon and neon.