A compact collinear polarization gating scheme for many cycle laser pulses

Area of Science:

• Quantum optics
• Attosecond science
• Nonlinear optics

Background:

• Generation of coherent extreme-ultraviolet (XUV) radiation is crucial for probing ultrafast dynamics.
• Existing methods often require complex setups or lack stability.
• Many-cycle laser fields offer potential for high-energy XUV generation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate a compact and stable method for generating broadband coherent XUV radiation.
• To achieve XUV pulses with durations supporting isolated attosecond pulses.
• To utilize a novel polarization gating technique for enhanced XUV emission.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a compact collinear many cycle-polarization gating (CMC-PG) device.
• Interacted a many-cycle infrared (IR) laser field with gases.
• Employed temporal gating within the laser pulse to confine XUV emission.

Main Results:

• Successfully generated broadband coherent continuum XUV radiation.
• Achieved XUV spectral widths supporting isolated pulses of 200 attosecond (asec) duration.
• Measured gate width agreed with theoretical predictions, confirming the device's efficacy.

Conclusions:

• The CMC-PG device is a simple, compact, and stable tool for XUV generation.
• Enables the production of energetic isolated attosecond pulses.
• Facilitates measurements of the carrier-envelope phase in high-power laser fields.