Controls for the generations of high-order harmonics and attosecond pulses by infrared laser field combined with a low-frequency pulse

We investigate high-order harmonic generations by controlling various quantum paths of harmonics in an infrared laser field which combines a low-frequency pulse. Both classical theory and quantum wavelet transform method are used to understand the physics of harmonics. By adjusting the carrier envelope phase of the fundamental field, the intensities of harmonic spectra increase and the harmonics in the plateau become regular. Attosecond pulses each with a duration of 58 as are obtained directly by compressing the harmonics, and with phase compensation an isolated attosecond pulse less than 30 as can be generated.     

利用多周期空间非均匀啁啾场产生单个短阿秒脉冲

提出了一种直接生成单个短阿秒脉冲的有效方案.采用数值求解一维含时薛定谔方程,理论研究了多周期空间非均匀啁啾场驱动预激发氦离子的高次谐波辐射和阿秒脉冲的产生.结果表明：在空间非均匀啁啾场作用下,谐波截止可扩展至1050阶次,并且高于300阶次以上的谐波是连续的.由于连续谱来自单一量子路径的贡献,滤出连续谱上880-1120阶次的谐波,直接产生了一个脉宽为11.4 as的单个脉冲.通过增加驱动脉冲的持续时间,可获得一个脉宽短至10 as的单个脉冲.     

Frequency dependence of quantum path interference in non-collinear high-order harmonic generation

High-order harmonic generation(HHG) driven by two non-collinear beams including a fundamental and its weak second harmonic is numerically studied. The interference of harmonics from adjacent electron quantum paths is found to be dependent on the relative delay of the driving pulse, and the dependences are different for different harmonic orders.This frequency dependence of the interference is attributed to the spatial frequency chirp in the HHG beam resulting from the harmonic dipole phase, which in turn provides a potential way to gain an insight into the generation of high-order harmonics. As an example, the intensity dependent dipole phase coefficient α is retrieved from the interference fringe.     

Ultra-broadband supercontinuum generation with a nonlinear chirped pulse for controlling quantum path

We theoretically investigate the high-order harmonic generation in helium atom driven by a nonlinear chirped laser pulse with few-cycle duration. By employing appropriate chirp to the driving pulse, an efficient electric field waveform of controlling quantum path for ultra-broadband supercontinuous harmonics is realized, and then an isolated sub-50 as pulse with bandwidth of 739 eV can be significantly obtained.     

静电场对高次谐波时频特性的影响

通过数值求解含时薛定谔方程，发现在静电场的作用下，对原子高次谐波谱截止区附近的谐波进行叠加可以得到脉冲间隔为一个光周期的阿秒脉冲链. 利用这种性质，用12fs波长为800nm的激光附加强度为激光强度0.25%的静电场脉冲驱动He原子可以得到脉宽为220as的单个脉冲. 当静电场与激光场幅度之比达到0.39时，原子谐波谱的截止区可以被拓宽到I_p+9.1U_p，同时，次数高于I_p+0.7U_p的谐波的相位几乎是锁定的，因此可以得到谱宽大于40eV且相位锁定的谐波. 对这部分谐波进行叠加就可以得到脉宽小于100as的阿秒脉冲链.     

High-order harmonic generation of the N2 molecule in two-color circularly polarized laser fields

The generation of high-order harmonics and the attosecond pulse of the N₂ molecule in two-color circularly polarized laser fields are investigated by the strong-field Lewenstein model. We show that the plateau of spectra is dramatically extended and a continuous harmonic spectrum with the bandwidth of 113 eV is obtained. When a static field is added to the x direction, the quantum path control is realized and a supercontinuum spectrum can be obtained, which is beneficial to obtain a shorter attosecond pulse. The underlying physical mechanism is well explained by the time-frequency analysis and the semi-classical three-step model with a finite initial transverse velocity. By superposing several orders of harmonics in the combination of two-color circularly polarized laser fields and a static field, an isolated attosecond pulse with a duration of 30 as can be generated.     

空间非均匀啁啾双色场驱动下氦离子的高次谐波以及孤立阿秒脉冲的产生

本文理论上研究了初态为基态与第一激发态等权叠加的一维氦离子在空间非均匀啁啾双色场驱动下氦离子的高次谐波发射及孤立阿秒脉冲的产生. 研究表明, 一维氦离子在空间非均匀啁啾双色场驱动下发射的高次谐波相对于均匀场情况截止位置得到明显扩展, 得到了光滑的超连续谱,并应用半经典三步模型解释了高次谐波发射的物理机理. 通过小波变换的方法对连续谱进行了时频分析, 并且与电子的经典运动轨迹进行了对比分析, 结果显示在空间非均匀场中长量子轨道消失, 短量子轨道加强. 讨论了空间非均匀啁啾双色场中时间延迟对谐波和孤立阿秒脉冲产生的影响, 发现适当调整时间延迟值可以得到较大延展的光滑的超连续谐波谱, 本方案中时间延迟为t₀=1.6πup/ω₁时得到了最大延展, 通过对谐波中600次到680次(80次)谐波合成得到32 as的孤立脉冲.     

双色激光脉冲辐照下38 as孤立短脉冲的产生

通过数值求解一维含时薛定谔方程, 本文研究了具有特定波长的双色激光脉冲与氦原子相互作用产生的高次谐波和阿秒脉冲, 这里双色激光脉冲由5 fs较低强度基频钛宝石主脉冲与另一束较高强度的1330 nm 红外附加脉冲构成. 研究发现, 若两束脉冲之间的相对相位选择合适, 可以获得宽带连续辐射的高次谐波谱, 叠加该连续辐射谱可获得脉宽为38 as的孤立短脉冲. 进一步研究发现, 不同于以往孤立阿秒脉冲研究中选出长、短量子路径之一作为辐射源, 这里单阿秒脉冲来源于长、短两个量子路径的贡献, 只是这两个量子路径在很宽的谐波次数变化范围内辐射时刻比较集中. 关键词： 双色激光脉冲 阿秒脉冲 量子路径     

Theoretical investigation of high-order harmonic generation from asymmetric molecular ions in the chirped laser field

High-order harmonic generation from the asymmetric helium hydrogen molecular ion exposed to a few-cycle chirped laser field is theoretically investigated by numerically solving the reduced one-dimension non-Born–Oppenheimer time dependent Schrödinger equation. The numerical results show that the plateau of the high-order harmonic spectrum is dramatically broadened and smoother with the introduction of the chirp. Further study presents that only the short quantum path contributes to harmonic emission and the long quantum path disappears in the chirped laser. In addition, an 80-as isolated attosecond pulse is obtained by superposing the harmonics from the 100th to the 130th order in the chirped field. The time-frequency distributions and the electronic probability distributions are presented to explain the underlying physical mechanism.     

空间非均匀场下核间距对不对称分子谐波发射的影响

数值研究了空间非均匀场下核间距离对于不对称分子HeH2+发射高次谐波以及阿秒脉冲的影响。计算结果表明,通过适当调节HeH2+分子离子的核间距离以及空间非均匀参数,不仅谐波发射的截止能量得到了延伸,而且单一的短量子路径也被选择出来对谐波发射起作用。随后适当引入第二束控制激光场,谐波截止能量得到了进一步扩展,形成了两个带宽分别在431eV和372eV的连续平台区。 最后,通过适当的叠加谐波,可获得脉宽为31as-65as的一系列阿秒X射线光源。     

量子路径控制生成宽频软X射线连续辐射谱

数值研究了双色激光脉冲与一维氩原子相互作用的谐波发射功率谱.双色激光脉冲由800 nm和1600 nm的两束激光组成,脉冲持续时间为9.7 fs.计算结果表明,相对相位为π时,谐波截止频率从单色场情形的58 eV大幅度地展宽到316 eV,获得频宽为93 eV的软X射线连续辐射谱.此外,还采用短程的普薛耳－特勒势和长程的软化库仑势进行比对,数值结果表明该连续辐射谱的存在具有普适性.通过半经典的“三步”模型和时频分析小波变换方法对该连续辐射谱进行分析,发现其主要由单一的“短”量子路径生成,直接叠加频率从22 关键词： 红外双色激光脉冲 连续辐射谱 阿秒脉冲     

Extending the High-Order Harmonics Plateau and Isolated Attosecond Pulse Generation in an Intense Three-Color Laser Field

We propose a method to extend the high-order harmonics plateau and generate an isolated sub-10-as pulse by adding a weak control pulse (10 fs, 1600 nm) to modify a two-color laser field (5 fs, 800 nm; 10 fs, 400 nm). The numerical results show that the plateau is extended obviously in the three-color laser field regime. Additionally, the ionization rate and classical returning kinetic-energy maps are calculated to better understand the physical origin of the high-order harmonics generation (HHG). By means of the ionization probability and the time-frequency distributions, more features of the HHG are revealed. Furthermore, our simulations show that the width of the plateau and the relative conversion efficiency of the harmonic spectra are highly dependent on the relative phase. Finally, by adjusting the relative phase and superposing a properly selected range of the HHG spectrum, an isolated attosecond pulse with a duration of 7 as is obtained.     

High-order harmonic generation in laser plasma: Recent achievements

Recent studies of high-order harmonic generation of laser radiation in laser-produced plasma show new attractive developments in this field. Those include generation of extended harmonics in plasma plumes, new approaches in application of two-color pump, generation of extremely broadened harmonics, further developments in harmonic generation in clusters (fullerenes, carbon nanotubes, in-situ produced nanoparticles), destructive interference of harmonics from different emitters, resonance-induced enhancement of harmonics, applications of high pulse repetition rate lasers for the enhancement of average power of generating harmonics, observation of quantum path signatures, etc. We review some of these recent developments.     

不均匀场中氢分子离子高次谐波产生的理论研究

在非Born-Oppenheimer近似下,通过求解含时薛定谔方程的方法,对氢分子离子在不均匀场中高次谐波的产生进行了理论研究.计算结果显示,同均匀场相比,电离的电子在不均匀场中加速会获得更多的能量,从而更有利于得到宽频谱.此外,通过优化不均匀场中的空间不均匀度,长量子路径被明显的抑制,最终通过叠加110阶到150阶谐波,获得一个60as的孤立阿秒脉冲.同时,通过库仑势和激光场的相互作用势以及时频分布图解释了其中的物理机制.     

两束同色激光场和中红外场驱动氦原子在等离激元中产生的单个阿秒脉冲

通过数值求解一维氦原子由两束同色激光场和中红外形成组合场中的含时薛定谔方程,研究了氦原子在纳米等离激元中发射高次谐波的性质以及合成阿秒脉冲的特点.研究表明,在等离激元中氦原子在组合场驱动下发射的高次谐波相对于均匀场情况下截止位置会得到明显扩展,但等离激元对处在连续态电子的吸收效应会对高次谐波截止位置影响较大,通过改变激元的相对位置能明显提高其中一个轨道对谐波的贡献,抑制另一些电子轨道的贡献.经典分析表明,两个电子轨道发生并合,从而实现单个阿秒脉冲的输出.与原子在均匀场驱动的情况相比,阿秒脉冲的宽度明显缩短,最短可实现28 as的单个脉冲输出.     

不均匀场中氢分子离子高次谐波产生的理论研究

在非Born-Oppenheimer近似下，通过求解含时薛定谔方程的方法，对氢分子离子在不均匀场中高次谐波的产生进行了理论研究.计算结果显示，同均匀场相比，电离的电子在不均匀场中加速会获得更多的能量，从而更有利于得到宽频谱.此外,通过优化不均匀场中的空间不均匀度，长量子路径被明显的抑制，最终通过叠加110阶到150阶谐波，获得一个60as的孤立阿秒脉冲.同时，通过库仑势和激光场的相互作用势以及时频分布图解释了其中的物理机制.     

Isolated attosecond pulse generation from atom radiated by a three-color laser pulse

We theoretically investigate high-order harmonic and attosecond pulse generation from helium atom in a three-color laser field, which is synthesized by 10 fs/800 nm Ti-sapphire laser and a two-color field consisting of 30 fs/532 nm and30 fs/1330 nm pulses. Compared with harmonic spectrum generated by a monochromatic field, the harmonics generated from the synthesized three-color field show a supercontinuum spectrum with a bandwidth of 235 eV, ranging from the 154 th to the 306 th order harmonic. This phenomenon can be attributed to the fact that the ionization of atoms as well as motion of ionized electron can be effectively controlled in the three-color field. Therefore, an isolated 46-as pulse can be generated by superposing supercontinuum from the 160 th to the 210 th order harmonics.     

利用超短的紫外光源来增强阿秒脉冲的强度

本文理论提出了一种利用超短紫外光源来增强阿秒脉冲强度的方法 .计算结果表明,当适当的加入一束62 nm或者125 nm超短紫外光源到双色激光场时,不仅高次谐波的截止能量被延伸了,而且谐波的强度也比原双色场时有明显的增强.尤其是当采用125 nm光源时,谐波的强度被增强了2个数量级,并且形成了一个232 e V的超长平台区.最后通过叠加谐波次数从113次到170次可获得脉宽仅为43 as的孤立阿秒脉冲,其强度比原双色场情况下产生的阿秒脉冲增强了2个数量级.     

利用超短的紫外光源来增强阿秒脉冲的强度

本文理论提出了一种利用超短紫外光源来增强阿秒脉冲强度的方法. 计算结果表明, 当适当的加入一束62nm或者125nm超短紫外光源到双色激光场时, 不仅高次谐波的截止能量被延伸了, 而且谐波的强度也比原双色场时有明显的增强. 尤其是当采用125nm光源时,谐波的强度被增强了2个数量级,并且形成了一个232eV的超长平台区. 最后通过叠加谐波次数从113次到170次可获得脉宽仅为43as的孤立阿秒脉冲, 其强度比原双色场情况下产生的阿秒脉冲增强了2个数量级.     

Control of the supercontinuum spectrum bandwidth and emission efficiency for intense-isolated sub 40-as pulse generation by using a coherent superposition of states

We present a systematic study for generation of intense and short single as pulse in pre-excited He-ionic medium with the use of a same-frequency laser field synthesis. By preparing He+ ions in a coherent superposition of the ground and excited states, a depth of spectral modulation efficiently decreases and the efficiency of harmonic plateau increases. By means of optimizing the laser parameters, the broadband XUV supercontinuum achieve by the superposition state scheme. It shows that by increasing the harmonic order of the supercontinuum, emission efficiency increases. The detailed view shows that the short-trajectory contributes to each supercontinuous harmonic and long-trajectory fully suppresses. Finally, by superposing some properly selected harmonics from optimal spectrum, an intense and almost transform-limited isolated 38-as pulse can be generated without phase compensation. A single isolated 5-as pulse can be achieved after phase compensation. These results are explained by using classical and quantum time-frequency analyses.