Generation of Single-Cycle Light Pulses

Stuart, B C ; Jovanovic, I ; Armstrong, J P ; Pyke, B ; Crane, J K ; Shuttlesworth, R

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

关键词: Removal;    Dissociation;    Parametric Amplifiers;    70 Plasma Physics And Fusion;    Compressors;   

DOI  :  10.2172/15014271
RP-ID  :  UCRL-TR-155884
RP-ID  :  W-7405-ENG-48
RP-ID  :  15014271

美国|英语

来源: UNT Digital Library

【 摘 要 】

Most optical pulses, even at the 10-femtosecond timescale, consist of several oscillations of the electric field. By producing and amplifying an ultra-broadband continuum, single cycle (e 3 fs) or shorter optical pulses may be generated. This requires a very challenging pulse-compression with sub-femtosecond accuracy. Production of these single-cycle pulses will lead to new generations of experiments in the areas of coherent control of chemical excitations and reactions, 0.1-fs high-order harmonic (XUV) generation for probing of materials and fast processes, and selective 3-D micron-scale material removal and modification. We activated the first stage of a planned three-stage optical parametric amplifier (OPA) that would ultimately produce sub-3 fs pulses. Active control with a learning algorithm was implemented to optimize the continuum generated in an argon-filled capillary and to control and optimize the final compressed pulse temporal shape. A collaboration was initiated to coherently control the population of different states upon dissociation of Rb{sub 2}. Except for one final optic, a pulse compressor and diagnostics were constructed to produce and characterize pulses in the 5-fs range from the first OPA stage.