High-order harmonic generation from a solid-surface plasma by relativistic-intensity sub-100-fs mid-infrared pulses

Mitrofanov, A. V.; Sidorov‐Biryukov, D. A.; Рожко, М. В.; Ryabchuk, S. V.; Voronin, A. A.; Zheltikov, A. M.

doi:10.1364/ol.43.005571

“…5 a along with the respective Φ( I 0 λ 0 2 ) asymptotes), the use of a 3.9-μm, sub-100-fs output of the latest-generation high-power OPCPAs 37 – 39 , 63 – 65 can significantly enhance THz generation from relativistic laser–plasma settings relative to plasmas driven by standard, 0.8-μm Ti: sapphire laser pulses. Relativistic field intensities have been already achieved for such sources 63 , 64 . The work to even higher I 0 is in progress.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Enhanced coherent transition radiation from midinfrared-laser-driven microplasmas

Glek

¹

,

Zheltikov

²

2022

Sci Rep

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We present a particle-in-cell (PIC) analysis of terahertz (THz) radiation by ultrafast plasma currents driven by relativistic-intensity laser pulses. We show that, while the I0$${\lambda }_{0}^{2}$$ λ 0 2 product of the laser intensity I0 and the laser wavelength λ0 plays the key role in the energy scaling of strong-field laser-plasma THz generation, the THz output energy, WTHz, does not follow the I0$${\lambda }_{0}^{2}$$ λ 0 2 scaling. Its behavior as a function of I0 and λ0 is instead much more complex. Our two- and three-dimensional PIC analysis shows that, for moderate, subrelativistic and weakly relativistic fields, WTHz(I0$${\lambda }_{0}^{2}$$ λ 0 2 ) can be approximated as (I0λ02)α, with a suitable exponent α, as a clear signature of vacuum electron acceleration as a predominant physical mechanism whereby the energy of the laser driver is transferred to THz radiation. For strongly relativistic laser fields, on the other hand, WTHz(I0$${\lambda }_{0}^{2}$$ λ 0 2 ) closely follows the scaling dictated by the relativistic electron laser ponderomotive potential $${\mathscr{F}}_{{\text{e}}}$$ F e , converging to WTHz ∝ $${I}_{0}^{1/2}{\lambda }_{0}$$ I 0 1 / 2 λ 0 for very high I0, thus indicating the decisive role of relativistic ponderomotive charge acceleration as a mechanism behind laser-to-THz energy conversion. Analysis of the electron distribution function shows that the temperature Te of hot laser-driven electrons bouncing back and forth between the plasma boundaries displays the same behavior as a function of I0 and λ0, altering its scaling from (I0λ02)α to that of $${\mathscr{F}}_{{\text{e}}}$$ F e , converging to WTHz ∝ $${I}_{0}^{1/2}{\lambda }_{0}$$ I 0 1 / 2 λ 0 for very high I0. These findings provide a clear physical picture of THz generation in relativistic and subrelativistic laser plasmas, suggesting the THz yield WTHz resolved as a function of I0 and λ0 as a meaningful measurable that can serve as a probe for the temperature Te of hot electrons in a vast class of laser–plasma interactions. Specifically, the α exponent of the best (I0λ02)α fit of the THz yield suggests a meaningful probe that can help identify the dominant physical mechanisms whereby the energy of the laser field is converted to the energy of plasma electrons.

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“…More recently, the generated ultrabroadband high harmonic supercontinua were applied for X-ray absorption spectroscopy at J o u r n a l P r e -p r o o f the K-and L-absorption edges of solids and in the water window, allowing for probing the fastest processes on femtosecond-to-attosecond time scales and picometer length scales 226 . OPCPA sources have also been demonstrated as indispensable tools for performing CEP-sensitive experiments for the study and control of ultrafast processes in light-matter interactions 227 . Moreover, OP-CPA sources were demonstrated to efficiently drive HHG generation from solid surfaces 78,171,228 , hard X-ray production from metallic targets 229 and for photoemission spectroscopy of solids 230 .…”

Section: Applicationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Table-top optical parametric chirped pulse amplifiers: past and present

Dubietis¹,

Matijošius²

2023

OEA

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The generation of power-and wavelength-scalable few optical cycle pulses remains one of the major challenges in modern laser physics. Over the past decade, the development of table-top optical parametric chirped pulse amplificationbased systems was progressing at amazing speed, demonstrating excellent performance characteristics in terms of pulse duration, energy, peak power and repetition rate, which place them at the front line of modern ultrafast laser technology. At present, table-top optical parametric chirped pulse amplifiers comprise a unique class of ultrafast light sources, which currently amplify octave-spanning spectra and produce carrier-envelope phase-stable, few optical cycle pulses with multi-gigawatt to multi-terawatt peak powers and multi-watt average powers, with carrier wavelengths spanning a considerable range of the optical spectrum. This article gives an overview on the state of the art of table-top optical parametric chirped pulse amplifiers, addressing their relevant scientific and technological aspects, and provides a short outlook of practical applications in the growing field of ultrafast science.

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“…Such high intensity lasers have served to expand the horizon of laser-cluster interaction. These high power lasers have assisted lot of development in the field of radiation reaction [10] and high harmonics generation by laser-plasma interaction [11,12]. Furthermore, the direct measurement of the laser parameters at such extreme laser intensities is always a challenge, which can be addressed by the knowledge of Thomson scattered radiation post electron interaction with such ultrahigh laser intensities [13].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Higher harmonics and attosecond pulse generation by laser induced Thomson scattering in atomic clusters

Venkat

¹

,

Holkundkar

²

2019

Phys. Rev. Accel. Beams

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The generation of higher harmonics of intense lasers and associated attosecond pulses is a field of contemporary interest which promises a variety of applications ranging from the fundamental to applied sciences. In this work, we have probed the interaction of the intense (≳10 19 W=cm 2 ) 248 nm laser with Deuterium clusters using classical molecular dynamics simulation. The Thomson scattered radiation emitted by the electrons is considered by using standard Liénard-Wiechert potentials. We have studied the angular distribution of the radiation emitted by electrons and observed that the ponderomotive force exerted by these highly intense laser pulses leaves a very distinct signature of the radiated energy along a particular direction, which in principle has its own diagnostic potential to directly measure the intensities of incident laser pulses. Furthermore, the interaction of lasers with intensities ∼10 19 -10 21 W=cm 2 with atomic clusters results in the attosecond burst of energy in form of electromagnetic radiations, which fall under the XUV to soft x-rays regime of electromagnetic spectrum. The parameters of the atomic clusters, e.g., size (number of atoms), atomic species, etc. can be easily controlled experimentally and these in turn, change the number of electrons participating in the interaction process and hence, the properties of Thomson scattered radiation can be tuned accordingly.

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High-order harmonic generation from a solid-surface plasma by relativistic-intensity sub-100-fs mid-infrared pulses

Cited by 32 publications

References 39 publications

Enhanced coherent transition radiation from midinfrared-laser-driven microplasmas

Enhanced coherent transition radiation from midinfrared-laser-driven microplasmas

Table-top optical parametric chirped pulse amplifiers: past and present

Higher harmonics and attosecond pulse generation by laser induced Thomson scattering in atomic clusters

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