Open AccessGeneration of isolated attosecond pulses of sub-atomic-time durations with multi-cycle chirped polarization gating pulses
Author(s) -
Chaojin Zhang,
Jinping Yao,
Jielei Ni
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.20.024642
Subject(s) - supercontinuum , attosecond , optics , physics , high harmonic generation , polarization (electrochemistry) , self phase modulation , nonlinear optics , ultrashort pulse , laser , wavelength , photonic crystal fiber , chemistry
We theoretically investigate the X-ray supercontinuum generated by interaction of multi-cycle, chirped polarization gating pulses with the helium gas. It is shown that with this scheme, an isolated sub-50-attosecond pulse can be obtained straightforwardly without any phase compensation. Interestingly, if one selects an extremely broad spectral range near the high-order harmonic cutoff, an isolated and intense sub-24-attosecond pulse can be generated after phase compensation, which could be used to detect and control the electronic dynamics inside the atoms. Furthermore, it is found that the generation of such a broad and smooth X-ray supercontinuum is not so stringent on the selection of the simulated parameters, allowing for the experimental demonstration of this technique in the future.