High Harmonic XUV Spectral Phase Interferometry for Direct Electric-Field Reconstruction

Journal Article · Fri May 06 00:00:00 EDT 2005 · Physical Review Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.94.173903· OSTI ID:20696236

Mairesse, Y; Gobert, O; Breger, P; Merdji, H; Meynadier, P; Monchicourt, P; Perdrix, M; Salieres, P; Carre, B ^[1]

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1. DSM-DRECAM-Service des Photons, Atomes et Molecules, CEA Saclay, 91191 Gif-sur-Yvette Cedex (France)

We demonstrate the first experimental complete temporal characterization of high-harmonic XUV pulses by spectral phase interferometry, with an all-optical setup. This method allows us to perform single-shot measurements of the harmonic temporal profile and phase, revealing a remarkable shot-to-shot stability. We characterize harmonics generated in argon by a 50 fs 800 nm laser pulse. The 11th harmonic is found to be 22 fs long with a negative chirp rate of -4.8x10{sup 27} s{sup -2}. This duration can be reduced to 13 fs by modulating the polarization of the generating laser. The technique is easy to implement and could be routinely used in femtosecond XUV pump-probe experiments with harmonics.

• OSTI ID: 20696236
• Journal Information: Physical Review Letters, Vol. 94, Issue 17; Other Information: DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.94.173903; (c) 2005 The American Physical Society; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0031-9007
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ARGON
ELECTRIC FIELDS
EXTREME ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION
HARMONIC GENERATION
INTERFEROMETRY
LASERS
POLARIZATION
PULSES
VISIBLE RADIATION