High harmonic generation

About: High harmonic generation is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 11694 publications have been published within this topic receiving 222650 citations. The topic is also known as: HHG.

Second-harmonic generation from arrays of symmetric gold nanoparticles

Abstract: We show that second-harmonic light can be generated from a diffraction grating of gold nanoparticles with planar inversion symmetry. By measuring the angular distribution of second-harmonic light, we observe an effect in which the diffraction pattern of the grating is superimposed on the intrinsic second-harmonic radiation pattern of the nanoparticles. This result suggests that the second-harmonic generation may be used to study coherent nonlinear optical effects in symmetric as well as asymmetric metal nanoparticles.

Comparison between length and velocity gauges in quantum simulations of high-order harmonic generation

Abstract: We solve the time-dependent Schr\"odinger equation for atomic hydrogen in an intense field using spherical coordinates with a radial grid and a spherical harmonic basis for the angular part. We present the high-order harmonic spectra based on three different forms, the dipole, dipole velocity, and acceleration forms, and two gauges, the length and velocity gauges. The relationships among the harmonic phases obtained from the Fourier transform of the three forms are discussed in detail. Although quantum mechanics is gauge invariant and the length and velocity gauges should give identical results, the two gauges present different computation efficiencies, which reflects the different behavior in terms of characteristics of the physical couplings acting in the two gauges. In order to obtain convergence, more angular momentum states are required in the length gauge, while more grid points are required in the velocity gauge. At lower laser intensity, the calculation in the length gauge is faster than that in the velocity gauge, while at high laser intensity, the calculation in the velocity gauge is more efficient. The velocity gauge is also expected to be more efficient in higher-dimensional calculations.

Real-time and Sub-wavelength Ultrafast Coherent Diffraction Imaging in the Extreme Ultraviolet

Abstract: Coherent Diffraction Imaging is a technique to study matter with nanometer-scale spatial resolution based on coherent illumination of the sample with hard X-ray, soft X-ray or extreme ultraviolet light delivered from synchrotrons or more recently X-ray Free-Electron Lasers. This robust technique simultaneously allows quantitative amplitude and phase contrast imaging. Laser-driven high harmonic generation XUV-sources allow table-top realizations. However, the low conversion efficiency of lab-based sources imposes either a large scale laser system or long exposure times, preventing many applications. Here we present a lensless imaging experiment combining a high numerical aperture (NA = 0.8) setup with a high average power fibre laser driven high harmonic source. The high flux and narrow-band harmonic line at 33.2 nm enables either sub-wavelength spatial resolution close to the Abbe limit (Δr = 0.8λ) for long exposure time, or sub-70 nm imaging in less than one second. The unprecedented high spatial resolution, compactness of the setup together with the real-time capability paves the way for a plethora of applications in fundamental and life sciences.

Compression of attosecond harmonic pulses by extreme-ultraviolet chirped mirrors.

Abstract: In the race toward attosecond pulses, for which high-order harmonics generated in rare gases are the best candidates, both the harmonic spectral range and the spectral phase have to be controlled. We demonstrate that multilayer extreme-ultraviolet chirped mirrors can be numerically optimized and designed to compensate for the intrinsic harmonic chirp that was recently discovered and that is responsible for temporal broadening of pulses. A simulation shows that an optimized mirror is capable of compressing the duration from ?260to90?as. This new technique is an interesting solution because of its ability to cover a wider spectral range than other technical devices that have already been proposed to overcome the chirp of high harmonics.

Megawatt-scale average-power ultrashort pulses in an enhancement cavity

Abstract: We investigate power scaling of ultrashort-pulse enhancement cavities. We propose a model for the sensitivity of a cavity design to thermal deformations of the mirrors due to the high circulating powers. Using this model and optimized cavity mirrors, we demonstrate 400 kW of average power with 250 fs pulses and 670 kW with 10 ps pulses at a central wavelength of 1040 nm and a repetition rate of 250 MHz. These results represent an average power improvement of one order of magnitude compared to state-of-the-art systems with similar pulse durations and will thus benefit numerous applications such as the further scaling of tabletop sources of hard x rays (via Thomson scattering of relativistic electrons) and of soft x rays (via high harmonic generation).