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Updated: Feb 26, 2026

Design, Fabrication, and Experimental Characterization of Plasmonic Photoconductive Terahertz Emitters
Published on: July 8, 2013
Tailored semiconductors for high-harmonic optoelectronics
Murat Sivis1,2, Marco Taucer3, Giulio Vampa3
1Joint Attosecond Science Laboratory, National Research Council of Canada and University of Ottawa, 100 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0R6, Canada. msivis@uni-goettingen.de.
Researchers engineered solid-state materials to control high-harmonic generation, enabling tailored attosecond science applications. This breakthrough allows for precise control over light-matter interactions in customized solid targets.
Area of Science:
- Solid-state physics
- Attosecond science
- Nanophotonics
Background:
- High-harmonic generation (HHG) in gases pioneered attosecond science.
- HHG in solids offers new avenues for ultrafast spectroscopy and light generation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore and control high-harmonic generation in nanostructured and ion-implanted semiconductors.
- To demonstrate localized tailoring of HHG in solid-state materials.
Main Methods:
- Utilized nanostructured and ion-implanted semiconductors as HHG media.
- Employed wavelength-selective microscopic imaging to map harmonic emission.
- Modified material composition and morphology to tailor the generation medium and driving field.
Main Results:
- Achieved localized control over HHG in solids by altering material properties.
- Generated customized high-harmonic wave fields down to 225 nm.
- Demonstrated diffraction-limited self-focusing of harmonics to 1-micrometer spot sizes using a silicon Fresnel zone plate target.
Conclusions:
- Precisely engineered solid targets enable advanced control of high-harmonic technology.
- Solid-state HHG offers a versatile platform for generating tailored light fields for ultrafast science.
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