Focal cone high harmonic generation driven by a 400  TW laser

Area of Science:

• Physics
• Laser Science
• Quantum Optics

Background:

• High harmonic generation (HHG) is a key process for producing extreme ultraviolet (XUV) radiation.
• Scaling HHG to higher laser energies is crucial for advanced applications.
• Current methods face limitations due to saturation intensity and atomic density.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the focal cone high harmonic generation (FCHHG) technique for generating self-focusing XUV beams.
• To demonstrate the scalability of HHG to high energy lasers.
• To analyze the impact of laser spatial non-uniformity on the FCHHG process.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing the FCHHG geometry by passing a focusing laser beam through a gas sheet before the focal point.
• Employing high energy lasers, including experiments with 400 TW pulses.
• Analyzing the spectral signature and spatial profile of the generated XUV radiation.

Main Results:

• Successful generation of converging beams of high harmonic radiation.
• Demonstrated scaling of HHG to high incident laser power.
• Observed sensitivity of the FCHHG technique to spatial non-uniformities in the driving laser.

Conclusions:

• The FCHHG technique offers a scalable pathway for XUV generation with high energy lasers.
• This method increases the XUV emission area without exceeding atomic saturation limits.
• Mitigating spatial non-uniformities in high energy laser systems is critical for optimizing FCHHG performance.