High repetition rate plasma mirror device for attosecond science

Area of Science:

• Laser-plasma interactions
• Attosecond science
• High-intensity physics

Background:

• Reproducible plasma mirror generation is essential for advanced laser-driven applications.
• Existing methods struggle with precise target positioning at high laser repetition rates.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and demonstrate an active solid target positioning device.
• To enable stable plasma mirror creation for high-order harmonic generation.
• To ensure reproducible laser-matter interactions at kHz repetition rates.

Main Methods:

• Optical monitoring and nm-scale mechanical control of solid target surfaces.
• Integration with a kHz repetition rate, few-cycle pulse laser system.
• Active stabilization of residual target surface motion.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated precise positioning of solid targets for plasma mirror generation.
• Achieved active stabilization of target surface motion down to 47 nm (RMS).
• Enabled reproducible high-order harmonic generation using plasma mirrors.

Conclusions:

• The developed device ensures sub-300-as relative temporal stability of plasma mirrors.
• This technology is vital for generating coherent attosecond extreme ultraviolet radiation.
• The device facilitates reproducible pump-probe experiments in attosecond science.