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High-order harmonic generation up to 250 eV from highly ionized argon
Emily A Gibson1, Ariel Paul, Nick Wagner
1JILA, University of Colorado and National Institute of Standards and Technology, Boulder, Colorado 80309-0440, USA.
Physical Review Letters
|February 3, 2004
Summary
Researchers generated high-order harmonics up to 250 eV using argon gas, extending coherent up-conversion into the soft X-ray spectrum. This advance was achieved using a waveguide to prevent laser defocusing, enabling high harmonic generation from argon ions.
Area of Science:
- Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics
- Quantum Optics
- Laser Physics
Background:
- High-order harmonic generation (HHG) is a key process for producing coherent X-ray light.
- Previous HHG studies were limited by plasma-induced defocusing, especially in heavier gases like argon.
- Helium has been the primary medium for achieving high photon energies in HHG.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate high-order harmonic generation up to 250 eV using argon gas.
- To overcome plasma-induced defocusing limitations in HHG.
- To extend laser-based coherent up-conversion into the soft X-ray spectral region.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing a waveguide geometry to confine the laser pulse and mitigate plasma effects.
- Employing argon gas as the generation medium for high-order harmonics.
- Characterizing the generated harmonic spectrum up to 250 eV.
Main Results:
- Generation of harmonics up to 250 eV, an increase of 100 eV compared to previous argon studies.
- Achieved photon energies exceeding those from any medium except helium.
- Successfully generated high harmonics from argon ions, demonstrating the potential of ionic HHG.
Conclusions:
- High-order harmonic generation from argon ions is feasible and extends into the soft X-ray range.
- Waveguide-enhanced HHG in argon provides a pathway to generate coherent soft X-rays.
- This technique broadens the applicability of laser-based coherent up-conversion for X-ray applications.