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Extended ellipticity control for attosecond pulses by high harmonic generation.
Optics Letters
|November 16, 2017
Summary
Researchers demonstrate a new method to control the polarization of attosecond pulses using two-color laser fields. This technique enables the generation of chiral attosecond pulses with tunable ellipticity for advanced light-matter interaction studies.
Area of Science:
- Quantum Optics
- Attosecond Science
- Nonlinear Optics
Background:
- Attosecond pulses are crucial for studying electron dynamics in light-matter interactions.
- Generating circularly polarized or chiral attosecond pulses remains a challenge in high harmonic generation (HHG).
Purpose of the Study:
- To experimentally demonstrate a method for controlling the ellipticity of attosecond pulse trains.
- To generate chiral spectra and attosecond pulses with tunable polarization.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing two-color, bi-circular laser fields for high harmonic generation.
- Implementing a nonlinear medium position and controlling laser field intensities to create a helicity-dependent filter.
Main Results:
- Achieved control over the ellipticity of attosecond pulse trains.
- Generated chiral spectra with polarization tunable from linear to highly elliptical (up to ϵ=0.75).
- Demonstrated a practical method for tuning polarization of combined harmonics.
Conclusions:
- The developed technique offers a simple and predictable way to control polarization for attosecond pulses.
- This approach provides a chiral-sensitive element for advanced attosecond spectroscopy.
