Terahertz emission from ultrafast ionizing air in symmetry-broken laser fields

doi:10.1364/OE.15.004577

Terahertz emission from ultrafast ionizing air in symmetry-broken laser fields

Ki-Yong Kim, James H. Glownia, Antoinette J. Taylor, and George Rodriguez »View Author Affiliations

Optics Express, Vol. 15, Issue 8, pp. 4577-4584 (2007)
http://dx.doi.org/10.1364/OE.15.004577

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Abstract

A transient photocurrent model is developed to explain coherent terahertz emission from air irradiated by a symmetry-broken laser field composed of the fundamental and its second harmonic laser pulses. When the total laser field is asymmetric across individual optical cycles, a non-vanishing electron current surge can arise during optical field ionization of air, emitting a terahertz electromagnetic pulse. Terahertz power scalability is also investigated, and with optical pump energy of tens of millijoules per pulse, peak terahertz field strengths in excess of 150 kV/cm are routinely produced.

OCIS Codes
(260.5210) Physical optics : Photoionization
(300.6270) Spectroscopy : Spectroscopy, far infrared
(320.7120) Ultrafast optics : Ultrafast phenomena
(350.5400) Other areas of optics : Plasmas

ToC Category:
Ultrafast Optics

History
Original Manuscript: December 22, 2006
Revised Manuscript: March 16, 2007
Manuscript Accepted: March 16, 2007
Published: April 3, 2007

Citation
Ki-Yong Kim, James H. Glownia, Antoinette J. Taylor, and George Rodriguez, "Terahertz emission from ultrafast ionizing air in symmetry-broken laser fields," Opt. Express 15, 4577-4584 (2007)
http://www.opticsinfobase.org/oe/abstract.cfm?URI=oe-15-8-4577

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References

M. S. Sherwin, C. A. Schmuttenmaer, and P. H. Bucksbaum, DOE-NSF-NIH Workshop on Opportunities in THz Science (http://www.er.doe.gov/bes/reports/files/THz_rpt.pdf).
H. Hamster, A. Sullivan, S. Gordon, W. White, and R. W. Falcone, "Subpicosecond, electromagnetic pulses from intense laser-plasma interaction," Phys. Rev. Lett. 71, 2725-2728 (1993). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
W. P. Leemans, C. G. R. Geddes, J. Faure, Cs. Tóth, J. van Tilborg, C. B. Schroeder, E. Esarey, G. Fubiani, D. Auerbach, B. Marcelis, M. A. Carnahan, R. A. Kaindl, J. Byrd, and M. C. Martin, "Observation of terahertz emission from a laser-plasma accelerated electron bunch crossing a plasma-vacuum boundary," Phys. Rev. Lett. 91, 074802/1-4 (2003). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
D. J. Cook and R. M. Hochstrasser, "Intense terahertz pulses by four-wave rectification in air," Opt. Lett. 25, 1210-1212 (2000). [CrossRef]
M. Kress, T. Löffler, S. Eden, M. Thomson, and H. G. Roskos, "Terahertz-pulse generation by photoionization of air with laser pulses composed of both fundamental and second-harmonic waves," Opt. Lett. 29, 1120-1122 (2004). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
T. Bartel, P. Gaal, K. Reimann, M. Woerner, and T. Elsaesser, "Generation of single-cycle THz transients with high electric-field amplitudes," Opt. Lett. 30, 2805-2807 (2005). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
X. Xie, J. Dai, and X.-C. Zhang, "Coherent control of THz wave generation in ambient air," Phys. Rev. Lett. 96, 075005/1-4 (2006). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
J. F. Federici, "Review of four-wave mixing and phase conjugation in plasmas," IEEE Trans. Plasma Sci. 19, 549-564 (1991). [CrossRef]
M. Kreß, T. Löffler, M. D. Thomson, R. Dörner, H. Gimpel, K. Zrost, T. Ergler, R. Moshammer, U. Morgner, J. Ullrich, and H. G. Roskos, "Determination of the carrier-envelope phase of few-cycle laser pulses with terahertz-emission spectroscopy," Nature Phys. 2, 327-331 (2006). [CrossRef]
D. W. Schumacher and P. H. Bucksbaum, "Phase dependence of intense-field ionization," Phys. Rev. A 54, 4271-4278 (1996). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
A. Haché, J. E. Sipe, and H. M. van Driel, "Quantum interference control of electrical currents in GaAs," IEEE J. Quantum Electron. 34, 1144-1154 (1998). [CrossRef]
E. Dupont, P. B. Corkum, H. C. Liu, M. Buchanan, and Z. R. Wasilewski, "Phase-controlled currents in semiconductors," Phys. Rev. Lett. 74, 3596-3599 (1995). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
P. B. Corkum, "Plasma perspective on strong-field multiphoton ionization," Phys. Rev. Lett. 71, 1994-1997 (1993). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
L. V. Keldysh, "Ionization in the field of a strong electromagnetic wave," Soc. Phys. JETP 20, 1307-1314 (1965).
M. J. Dewitt and R. J. Levis, "Calculating the Keldysh adiabaticity parameter for atomic, diatomic, and polyatomic molecules," J. Chem. Phys. 108, 7739-7742 (1998). [CrossRef]
G. Rodriguez, C. W. Siders, C. Guo, and A. J. Taylor, "Coherent ultrafast MI-FROG spectroscopy of optical field ionization in molecular H2, N2, and O2," IEEE J. Sel. Top. Quantum Electron. 7, 579-591 (2001). [CrossRef]
M. V. Ammosov, N. B. Delone, and V. P. Krainov, "Tunnel ionization of complex atoms and of atomic ions in an alternating electromagnetic field," Sov. Phys. JETP 64, 1191-1194 (1986).
C. Guo, M. Li, J. P. Nibarger, and G. N. Gibson, "Single and double ionization of diatomic molecules in strong laser fields," Phys. Rev. A 58, R4271-R4274 (1998). [CrossRef]
Q. Wu and X.-C. Zhang, "Free-space electro-optic sampling of terahertz beams," Appl. Phys. Lett. 67, 3523-3525 (1995). [CrossRef]
C. G. DurfeeIII, J. Lynch, and H. M Milchberg, "Development of a plasma waveguide for high-intensity laser pulses," Phys. Rev. E 51, 2368-2389 (1995). [CrossRef]

Appl. Phys. Lett.

Q. Wu and X.-C. Zhang, "Free-space electro-optic sampling of terahertz beams," Appl. Phys. Lett. 67, 3523-3525 (1995). [CrossRef]

IEEE J. Quantum Electron.

A. Haché, J. E. Sipe, and H. M. van Driel, "Quantum interference control of electrical currents in GaAs," IEEE J. Quantum Electron. 34, 1144-1154 (1998). [CrossRef]

IEEE J. Sel. Top. Quantum Electron.

G. Rodriguez, C. W. Siders, C. Guo, and A. J. Taylor, "Coherent ultrafast MI-FROG spectroscopy of optical field ionization in molecular H2, N2, and O2," IEEE J. Sel. Top. Quantum Electron. 7, 579-591 (2001). [CrossRef]

IEEE Trans. Plasma Sci.

J. F. Federici, "Review of four-wave mixing and phase conjugation in plasmas," IEEE Trans. Plasma Sci. 19, 549-564 (1991). [CrossRef]

J. Chem. Phys.

M. J. Dewitt and R. J. Levis, "Calculating the Keldysh adiabaticity parameter for atomic, diatomic, and polyatomic molecules," J. Chem. Phys. 108, 7739-7742 (1998). [CrossRef]

Nature Phys.

M. Kreß, T. Löffler, M. D. Thomson, R. Dörner, H. Gimpel, K. Zrost, T. Ergler, R. Moshammer, U. Morgner, J. Ullrich, and H. G. Roskos, "Determination of the carrier-envelope phase of few-cycle laser pulses with terahertz-emission spectroscopy," Nature Phys. 2, 327-331 (2006). [CrossRef]

Opt. Lett.

Phys. Rev. A

D. W. Schumacher and P. H. Bucksbaum, "Phase dependence of intense-field ionization," Phys. Rev. A 54, 4271-4278 (1996). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
C. Guo, M. Li, J. P. Nibarger, and G. N. Gibson, "Single and double ionization of diatomic molecules in strong laser fields," Phys. Rev. A 58, R4271-R4274 (1998). [CrossRef]

Phys. Rev. E

C. G. DurfeeIII, J. Lynch, and H. M Milchberg, "Development of a plasma waveguide for high-intensity laser pulses," Phys. Rev. E 51, 2368-2389 (1995). [CrossRef]

Phys. Rev. Lett.

H. Hamster, A. Sullivan, S. Gordon, W. White, and R. W. Falcone, "Subpicosecond, electromagnetic pulses from intense laser-plasma interaction," Phys. Rev. Lett. 71, 2725-2728 (1993). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
W. P. Leemans, C. G. R. Geddes, J. Faure, Cs. Tóth, J. van Tilborg, C. B. Schroeder, E. Esarey, G. Fubiani, D. Auerbach, B. Marcelis, M. A. Carnahan, R. A. Kaindl, J. Byrd, and M. C. Martin, "Observation of terahertz emission from a laser-plasma accelerated electron bunch crossing a plasma-vacuum boundary," Phys. Rev. Lett. 91, 074802/1-4 (2003). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
X. Xie, J. Dai, and X.-C. Zhang, "Coherent control of THz wave generation in ambient air," Phys. Rev. Lett. 96, 075005/1-4 (2006). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
E. Dupont, P. B. Corkum, H. C. Liu, M. Buchanan, and Z. R. Wasilewski, "Phase-controlled currents in semiconductors," Phys. Rev. Lett. 74, 3596-3599 (1995). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
P. B. Corkum, "Plasma perspective on strong-field multiphoton ionization," Phys. Rev. Lett. 71, 1994-1997 (1993). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

Soc. Phys. JETP

L. V. Keldysh, "Ionization in the field of a strong electromagnetic wave," Soc. Phys. JETP 20, 1307-1314 (1965).

Sov. Phys. JETP

M. V. Ammosov, N. B. Delone, and V. P. Krainov, "Tunnel ionization of complex atoms and of atomic ions in an alternating electromagnetic field," Sov. Phys. JETP 64, 1191-1194 (1986).

Other

M. S. Sherwin, C. A. Schmuttenmaer, and P. H. Bucksbaum, DOE-NSF-NIH Workshop on Opportunities in THz Science (http://www.er.doe.gov/bes/reports/files/THz_rpt.pdf).

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[1] M. S. Sherwin, C. A. Schmuttenmaer, and P. H. Bucksbaum, DOE-NSF-NIH Workshop on Opportunities in THz Science (http://www.er.doe.gov/bes/reports/files/THz_rpt.pdf).

[2] H. Hamster, A. Sullivan, S. Gordon, W. White, and R. W. Falcone, "Subpicosecond, electromagnetic pulses from intense laser-plasma interaction," Phys. Rev. Lett. 71, 2725-2728 (1993). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

[3] W. P. Leemans, C. G. R. Geddes, J. Faure, Cs. Tóth, J. van Tilborg, C. B. Schroeder, E. Esarey, G. Fubiani, D. Auerbach, B. Marcelis, M. A. Carnahan, R. A. Kaindl, J. Byrd, and M. C. Martin, "Observation of terahertz emission from a laser-plasma accelerated electron bunch crossing a plasma-vacuum boundary," Phys. Rev. Lett. 91, 074802/1-4 (2003). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

[4] D. J. Cook and R. M. Hochstrasser, "Intense terahertz pulses by four-wave rectification in air," Opt. Lett. 25, 1210-1212 (2000). [CrossRef]

[5] M. Kress, T. Löffler, S. Eden, M. Thomson, and H. G. Roskos, "Terahertz-pulse generation by photoionization of air with laser pulses composed of both fundamental and second-harmonic waves," Opt. Lett. 29, 1120-1122 (2004). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

[6] T. Bartel, P. Gaal, K. Reimann, M. Woerner, and T. Elsaesser, "Generation of single-cycle THz transients with high electric-field amplitudes," Opt. Lett. 30, 2805-2807 (2005). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

[7] X. Xie, J. Dai, and X.-C. Zhang, "Coherent control of THz wave generation in ambient air," Phys. Rev. Lett. 96, 075005/1-4 (2006). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

[8] J. F. Federici, "Review of four-wave mixing and phase conjugation in plasmas," IEEE Trans. Plasma Sci. 19, 549-564 (1991). [CrossRef]

[9] M. Kreß, T. Löffler, M. D. Thomson, R. Dörner, H. Gimpel, K. Zrost, T. Ergler, R. Moshammer, U. Morgner, J. Ullrich, and H. G. Roskos, "Determination of the carrier-envelope phase of few-cycle laser pulses with terahertz-emission spectroscopy," Nature Phys. 2, 327-331 (2006). [CrossRef]

[10] D. W. Schumacher and P. H. Bucksbaum, "Phase dependence of intense-field ionization," Phys. Rev. A 54, 4271-4278 (1996). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

[11] A. Haché, J. E. Sipe, and H. M. van Driel, "Quantum interference control of electrical currents in GaAs," IEEE J. Quantum Electron. 34, 1144-1154 (1998). [CrossRef]

[12] E. Dupont, P. B. Corkum, H. C. Liu, M. Buchanan, and Z. R. Wasilewski, "Phase-controlled currents in semiconductors," Phys. Rev. Lett. 74, 3596-3599 (1995). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

[13] P. B. Corkum, "Plasma perspective on strong-field multiphoton ionization," Phys. Rev. Lett. 71, 1994-1997 (1993). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

[14] L. V. Keldysh, "Ionization in the field of a strong electromagnetic wave," Soc. Phys. JETP 20, 1307-1314 (1965).

[15] M. J. Dewitt and R. J. Levis, "Calculating the Keldysh adiabaticity parameter for atomic, diatomic, and polyatomic molecules," J. Chem. Phys. 108, 7739-7742 (1998). [CrossRef]

[16] G. Rodriguez, C. W. Siders, C. Guo, and A. J. Taylor, "Coherent ultrafast MI-FROG spectroscopy of optical field ionization in molecular H2, N2, and O2," IEEE J. Sel. Top. Quantum Electron. 7, 579-591 (2001). [CrossRef]

[17] M. V. Ammosov, N. B. Delone, and V. P. Krainov, "Tunnel ionization of complex atoms and of atomic ions in an alternating electromagnetic field," Sov. Phys. JETP 64, 1191-1194 (1986).

[18] C. Guo, M. Li, J. P. Nibarger, and G. N. Gibson, "Single and double ionization of diatomic molecules in strong laser fields," Phys. Rev. A 58, R4271-R4274 (1998). [CrossRef]

[19] Q. Wu and X.-C. Zhang, "Free-space electro-optic sampling of terahertz beams," Appl. Phys. Lett. 67, 3523-3525 (1995). [CrossRef]

[20] C. G. DurfeeIII, J. Lynch, and H. M Milchberg, "Development of a plasma waveguide for high-intensity laser pulses," Phys. Rev. E 51, 2368-2389 (1995). [CrossRef]

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Terahertz emission from ultrafast ionizing air in symmetry-broken laser fields

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Abstract

References

Appl. Phys. Lett.

IEEE J. Quantum Electron.

IEEE J. Sel. Top. Quantum Electron.

IEEE Trans. Plasma Sci.

J. Chem. Phys.

Nature Phys.

Opt. Lett.

Phys. Rev. A

Phys. Rev. E

Phys. Rev. Lett.

Soc. Phys. JETP

Sov. Phys. JETP

Other

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