A new scheme for quasi-phasematching high harmonic generation (HHG) in gases is proposed. In this, the rapid variation of the axial intensity resulting from excitation of more than one mode of a waveguide is used to achieve quasi phasematching. Numerical modeling demonstrates enhancement of the harmonic signal over that achieved for a single coherence length by factors >10⁴.

© 2007 Optical Society of America

1. A. L’Huillier, P. Balcou, and L. Lompre, "Coherence and resonance effects in High-Order Harmonic Generation," Phys. Rev. Lett. 68, 166-169 (1992). P. B. Corkum "Plasma perspective on strong field multiphoton ionization,"Phys. Rev. Lett. 71, 1994 (1993). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
2. J. Seres,  et al., "Generation of coherent keV x-rays with intensefemtosecond laser pulses" NJP 8, 251 (2006). [CrossRef]
3. X. F. Li, A. L’Huillier, M. Ferray, L. A. Lompré and G. Mainfray, "Multiple-harmonic generation in rare gases at high laser intensity," Phys. Rev. A 39, 5751 (1989). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
4. C. Durfee, A. Rundquist, S. Backus, C. Herne, M. M. Murnane, and H. C. Kapteyn, "Phase matching of High-Order Harmonics in Hollow Waveguides," Phys. Rev. Lett. 83, 2187-2190 (1999). [CrossRef]
5. A. Paul,  et al., "Quasi-phase-matched generation of coherent extreme ultraviolet light," Nature 42, 51-54, (2003). [CrossRef]
6. I. P. Christov, H. C. Kapteyn, and M. M. Murnane, "Dispersion-controlled hollow core fiber for Phase Matched Harmonic Generation" Opt. Express 3, 360 (1998). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
7. S. Voronov "Control of Laser High-Harmonic Generation with Counterpropagating Light," Phys. Rev. Lett. 87, 133902 (2001). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
8. E. A. Gibson,  et al. "Coherent soft x-ray generation in the water window with quasi-phase matching," Science 302, 95-98 (2003). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
9. R. L. Abrams, "Coupling losses in hollow waveguide fiber resonators, "IEEE J. Quantum Electron. 8, 838 (1972). [CrossRef]
10. C. Courtois, A. Couairon, B. Cros, J. R. Marques and G. Matthieussent, "Propagation of in tense ultrashort laser pulses in a plasma filled capillary tube: simulations and experiments," Phys. Plasmas 8, 3445 (2001). [CrossRef]
11. E. A. J. Marcatili and R. A. Schmeltzer, "Hollow metallic and dielectric waveguides for long distance optical transmission and lasers," Bell Syst. Tech. J. 43, 1783 (1964).
12. B. Cros,  et al. "Eigenmodes for capillary tubes with dielectric walls and ultraintense laser pulse guiding," Phys. Rev. E 65, 026405 (2002). [CrossRef]
13. M. Ammosov, N. Delone, and V. Krainov, "Tunnel ionization of complex atoms and of atomic ions in an alternating electromagnetic field," Sov. Phys. JETP 64, 1191 (1986).
14. M. Zepf and B. Dromey, Queens University Belfast, are preparing a manuscript to be called "Bright quasi-phase matched soft x-ray harmonic radiation from Argon ions," (Feb 2007) - pre-submission access http://arxiv.org/abs/physics/0702117>
15. T. Pfeifer,  et al., "Spatial control of high-harmonic generation inhollow fibers," Opt. Lett. 30, 1497 (2005). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
16. D. Walter,  et al, "Adaptive spatial control of fiber modes and their excitation for high-harmonic generation" Opt. Exp. 14, 3433 (2006). [CrossRef]

Bell Syst. Tech. J.

• E. A. J. Marcatili and R. A. Schmeltzer, "Hollow metallic and dielectric waveguides for long distance optical transmission and lasers," Bell Syst. Tech. J. 43, 1783 (1964).

IEEE J. Quantum Electron.

• R. L. Abrams, "Coupling losses in hollow waveguide fiber resonators, "IEEE J. Quantum Electron. 8, 838 (1972). [CrossRef]

Nature

• A. Paul,  et al., "Quasi-phase-matched generation of coherent extreme ultraviolet light," Nature 42, 51-54, (2003). [CrossRef]

NJP

• J. Seres,  et al., "Generation of coherent keV x-rays with intensefemtosecond laser pulses" NJP 8, 251 (2006). [CrossRef]

Opt. Exp.

• D. Walter,  et al, "Adaptive spatial control of fiber modes and their excitation for high-harmonic generation" Opt. Exp. 14, 3433 (2006). [CrossRef]

Opt. Express

• I. P. Christov, H. C. Kapteyn, and M. M. Murnane, "Dispersion-controlled hollow core fiber for Phase Matched Harmonic Generation" Opt. Express 3, 360 (1998). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

Opt. Lett.

• T. Pfeifer,  et al., "Spatial control of high-harmonic generation inhollow fibers," Opt. Lett. 30, 1497 (2005). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

Phys. Plasmas

• C. Courtois, A. Couairon, B. Cros, J. R. Marques and G. Matthieussent, "Propagation of in tense ultrashort laser pulses in a plasma filled capillary tube: simulations and experiments," Phys. Plasmas 8, 3445 (2001). [CrossRef]

Phys. Rev. A

• X. F. Li, A. L’Huillier, M. Ferray, L. A. Lompré and G. Mainfray, "Multiple-harmonic generation in rare gases at high laser intensity," Phys. Rev. A 39, 5751 (1989). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

Phys. Rev. E

• B. Cros,  et al. "Eigenmodes for capillary tubes with dielectric walls and ultraintense laser pulse guiding," Phys. Rev. E 65, 026405 (2002). [CrossRef]

Phys. Rev. Lett.

• A. L’Huillier, P. Balcou, and L. Lompre, "Coherence and resonance effects in High-Order Harmonic Generation," Phys. Rev. Lett. 68, 166-169 (1992). P. B. Corkum "Plasma perspective on strong field multiphoton ionization,"Phys. Rev. Lett. 71, 1994 (1993). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• C. Durfee, A. Rundquist, S. Backus, C. Herne, M. M. Murnane, and H. C. Kapteyn, "Phase matching of High-Order Harmonics in Hollow Waveguides," Phys. Rev. Lett. 83, 2187-2190 (1999). [CrossRef]
• S. Voronov "Control of Laser High-Harmonic Generation with Counterpropagating Light," Phys. Rev. Lett. 87, 133902 (2001). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

Science

• E. A. Gibson,  et al. "Coherent soft x-ray generation in the water window with quasi-phase matching," Science 302, 95-98 (2003). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

Sov. Phys. JETP

• M. Ammosov, N. Delone, and V. Krainov, "Tunnel ionization of complex atoms and of atomic ions in an alternating electromagnetic field," Sov. Phys. JETP 64, 1191 (1986).

Other

• M. Zepf and B. Dromey, Queens University Belfast, are preparing a manuscript to be called "Bright quasi-phase matched soft x-ray harmonic radiation from Argon ions," (Feb 2007) - pre-submission access http://arxiv.org/abs/physics/0702117>

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