Comparison of Strong-field Ionization Models in the Wavelength-scaling of High Harmonic Generation.

We report the use of wavelength-tuneable laser pulses from an optical parametric amplifier to generate high-order harmonics in a range of noble gases. The variation of the harmonic cut-off wavelength and phasematching pressure with gas species and fundamental wavelength were recorded. The experimental results are compared to a phenomenological model of the harmonic generation process, incorporating two separate models of photo-ionization. While the calculated phasematching pressure is generally insensitive to the ionization model, for the harmonic cut-off we obtain superior agreement between experiment and theory when the Yudin-Ivanov (YI) ionization model is used, compared to the commonly utilised Ammosov-Delone-Krainov (ADK) model.

Gaussian-Schell analysis of the transverse spatial properties of high-harmonic beams.

High harmonic generation (HHG) is an established means of producing coherent, short wavelength, ultrafast pulses from a compact set-up. Table-top high-harmonic sources are increasingly being used to image physical and biological systems using emerging techniques such as coherent diffraction imaging and ptychography. These novel imaging methods require coherent illumination, and it is therefore important to both characterize the spatial coherence of high-harmonic beams and understand the processes which limit this property. Here we investigate the near- and far-field spatial properties of high-harmonic radiation generated in a gas cell. The variation with harmonic order of the intensity profile, wavefront curvature, and complex coherence factor is measured in the far-field by the SCIMITAR technique. Using the Gaussian-Schell model, the properties of the harmonic beam in the plane of generation are deduced. Our results show that the order-dependence of the harmonic spatial coherence is consistent with partial coherence induced by both variation of the intensity-dependent dipole phase as well as finite spatial coherence of the driving radiation. These findings are used to suggest ways in which the coherence of harmonic beams could be increased further, which would have direct benefits to imaging with high-harmonic radiation.

Quasi-phase-matched high-order harmonic generation using tunable pulse trains.

A simple technique for generating trains of ultrafast pulses is demonstrated in which the linear separation between pulses can be varied continuously over a wide range. These pulse trains are used to achieve tunable quasi-phase-matching of high harmonic generation over a range of harmonic orders up to the harmonic cut-off, resulting in enhancements of the harmonic intensity in excess of an order of magnitude. The peak enhancement of the harmonics is clearly shown to depend on the separation between pulses, as well as the number of pulses in the train, representing an easily tunable source of quasi-phase-matched high harmonic generation.

General analytic solution for far-field phase and amplitude control, with a phase-only spatial light modulator.

We present an analytical solution for the phase introduced by a phase-only spatial light modulator to generate far-field phase and amplitude distributions within a domain of interest. The solution is demonstrated experimentally and shown to enable excellent control of the far-field amplitude and phase.

Complete spatial characterization of an optical wavefront using a variable-separation pinhole pair.

We present a technique for measuring the transverse spatial properties of an optical wavefront. Intensity and phase profiles are recovered by analysis of a series of interference patterns produced by the combination of a scanning X-shaped slit and a static horizontal slit; the spatial coherence may be found from the same data. We demonstrate the technique by characterizing high harmonic radiation generated in a gas cell, however the method could be extended to a wide variety of light sources.