Polarization control of high order harmonics in the EUV photon energy range.
Opt Express
; 19(5): 4346-56, 2011 Feb 28.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-21369265
ABSTRACT
We report the generation of circularly polarized high order harmonics in the extreme ultraviolet range (18-27 nm) from a linearly polarized infrared laser (40 fs, 0.25 TW) focused into a neon filled gas cell. To circularly polarize the initially linearly polarized harmonics we have implemented a four-reflector phase-shifter. Fully circularly polarized radiation has been obtained with an efficiency of a few percents, thus being significantly more efficient than currently demonstrated direct generation of elliptically polarized harmonics. This demonstration opens up new experimental capabilities based on high order harmonics, for example, in biology and materials science. The inherent femtosecond time resolution of high order harmonic generating table top laser sources renders these an ideal tool for the investigation of ultrafast magnetization dynamics now that the magnetic circular dichroism at the absorption M-edges of transition metals can be exploited.
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Refractometry
/
Lasers
/
Lenses
Language:
En
Journal:
Opt Express
Journal subject:
OFTALMOLOGIA
Year:
2011
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
France