We theoretically demonstrate the generation of extreme ultraviolet supercontinua in an orthogonally polarized two-color few-cycle laser field. We show that the ionized electrons can be driven back to their parent ion after traveling along curved trajectories in a plane perpendicular to the beam propagation direction, giving rise to a train of attosecond pulses at different polarization angles. A single isolated attosecond pulse can be obtained by blocking the low-order high harmonics, which contribute to the formation of the satellite pulses.

© 2008 Optical Society of America

1. A. Baltuška, Th. Udem, M. Uiberacker, M. Hentschel, E. Goulielmakis, Ch. Gohle, R. Holzwarth, V. S. Yakovlev, A. Scrinzi, T. W. Hänsch, and F. Krausz, "Attosecond control of electronic processes by intense light fields," Nature 421, 611-615 (2003). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
2. R. Kienberger and F. Krausz, "Attosecond metrology comes of age," Phys. Scr. T110, 32-38 (2004). [CrossRef]
3. P. B. Corkum and F. Krausz, "Attosecond science," Nat. Phys. 3, 381-387 (2007). [CrossRef]
4. T. Pfeifer, L. Gallmann, M. J. Abel, P. M. Nagel, D. M. Neumark, and S. R. Leone, "Heterodyne mixing of laser fields for temporal gating of high-order harmonic generation," Phys. Rev. Lett. 97, 163901 (2006). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
5. Y. Oishi, M. Kaku, A. Suda, F. Kannari, and K. Midorikawa, "Generation of extreme ultraviolet continuum radiation driven by a sub-10-fs two-color field," Opt. Express 14, 7230-7237 (2006). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
6. Z. Zeng, Y. Cheng, X. Song, R. Li, and Z. Xu, "Generation of an extreme ultraviolet supercontinuum in a two-color laser field," Phys. Rev. Lett. 98, 203901 (2007). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
7. X. Song, Z. Zeng, Y. Fu, B. Cai, R. Li, Y. Cheng, and Z. Xu, "Quantum path control in few-optical-cycle regime," Phys. Rev. A 76, 043830 (2007). [CrossRef]
8. W. Cao, P. Lu, P. Lan, X. Wang, and Y. Li, "Control of the launch of attosecond pulses," Phys. Rev. A 75, 063423 (2007). [CrossRef]
9. G. Sansone, E. Benedetti, F. Calegari, C. Vozzi, L. Avaldi, R. Flammini, L. Poletto, P. Villoresi, C. Altucci, R. Velotta, S. Stagira, S. De Silvestri, and M. Nisoli, "Isolated single-cycle attosecond pulses," Science 314, 443-446 (2006). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
10. M. Kitzler, X. Xie, A. Scrinzi, and A. Baltuska, "Optical attosecond mapping by polarization selective detection," Phys. Rev. A 76, 011801 (R) (2007). [CrossRef]
11. C. M. Kim, I.J. Kim, and C. H. Nam, "Generation of a strong attosecond pulse train with an orthogonally polarized two-color laser field," Phys. Rev. A 72, 033817 (2005). [CrossRef]
12. I. J. Kim, C. M. Kim, H. T. Kim, G. H. Lee, Y. S. Lee, J. Y. Park, D. Jaeyun Cho, and C. H. Nam, "Highly efficient high-harmonic generation in an orthogonally polarized two-color laser field," Phys. Rev. Lett. 94, 243901 (2005). [CrossRef]
13. D. B. Miloševi?, W. Becker, and R. Kopold, "Generation of circularly polarized high-order harmonics by two-color coplanar field mixing," Phys. Rev. A 61, 063403 (2000). [CrossRef]
14. D. B. Miloševi? and W. Becker, "Attosecond pulse trains with unusual nonlinear polarization," Phys. Rev. A 62, 011403 (R) (2000). [CrossRef]
15. S. Odžak and D. B. Miloševi?, "Attosecond pulse generation by a coplanar circular and static field combination," Phys. Lett. A 355, 368-372 (2006). [CrossRef]
16. V. D. Taranukhin, "Attosecond pulse generation by a two-color field," J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 21, 419-424 (2004). [CrossRef]
17. D. Schulze, M. Dörr, G. Sommerer, J. Ludwig, P. V. Nickles, T. Schlegel, W. Sandner, M. Drescher, U. Kleineberg, and U. Heinzmann, "Polarization of the 61st harmonic from 1053-nm laser radiation in neon," Phys. Rev. A 57, 3003 - 3007 (1998). [CrossRef]
18. T. Brabec and F. Krausz, "Intense few-cycle laser fields: Frontiers of nonlinear optics," Rev. Mod. Phys. 72, 545 - 591 (2000). [CrossRef]
19. P. B. Corkum, "Plasma perspective on strong field multiphoton ionization," Phys. Rev. Lett. 71, 1994 - 1997 (1993). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
20. Ph. Antoine, B. Carré, Anne L'Huillier, and M. Lewenstein, "Polarization of high-order harmonics," Phys. Rev. A 55, 1314 - 1324 (1997). [CrossRef]
21. B. Borca, A. V. Flegel, M. V. Frolov, N. L. Manakov, DejanB. Miloševi?, and A. F. Starace, "Static-electric-field-induced polarization effects in harmonic generation," Phys. Rev. Lett. 85, 732 - 735 (2000). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
22. S. Bivona, G. Bonanno, R. Burlon, and C. Leone, "Polarization and angular distribution of the radiation emitted in laser-assisted recombination," Phys. Rev. A 76, 031402(R) (2007). [CrossRef]
23. A. Suda, M. Hatayama, K. Nagasaka, and K. Midorikawa, "Generation of sub-10-fs, 5-mJ-optical pulses using a hollow fiber with a pressure gradient," Appl. Phys. Lett. 86, 111116 (2005). [CrossRef]
24. C. Vozzi, F. Calegari, E. Benedetti, S. Gasilov, G. Sansone, G. Cerullo, M. Nisoli, S. De Silvestri, and S. Stagira, "Millijoule-level phase-stabilized few-optical-cycle infrared parametric source," Opt. Lett. 32, 2957-2959 (2007). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
25. Y. Mairesse, A. de Bohan, L. J. Frasinski, H. Merdji, L. C. Dinu, P. Monchicourt, P. Breger, M. Kova?ev, R. Taïeb, B. Carré, H. G. Muller, P. Agostini, and P. Salières, "Attosecond synchronization of high-harmonic soft X rays," Science  302, 1540-1543 (2003). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
26. M. Lein, "Molecular imaging using recolliding electrons," J. Phys. B. 40, R135-R173 (2007). [CrossRef]

Appl. Phys. Lett.

• A. Suda, M. Hatayama, K. Nagasaka, and K. Midorikawa, "Generation of sub-10-fs, 5-mJ-optical pulses using a hollow fiber with a pressure gradient," Appl. Phys. Lett. 86, 111116 (2005). [CrossRef]

J. Opt. Soc. Am. B

• V. D. Taranukhin, "Attosecond pulse generation by a two-color field," J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 21, 419-424 (2004). [CrossRef]

J. Phys. B.

• M. Lein, "Molecular imaging using recolliding electrons," J. Phys. B. 40, R135-R173 (2007). [CrossRef]

Nat. Phys.

• P. B. Corkum and F. Krausz, "Attosecond science," Nat. Phys. 3, 381-387 (2007). [CrossRef]

Nature

• A. Baltuška, Th. Udem, M. Uiberacker, M. Hentschel, E. Goulielmakis, Ch. Gohle, R. Holzwarth, V. S. Yakovlev, A. Scrinzi, T. W. Hänsch, and F. Krausz, "Attosecond control of electronic processes by intense light fields," Nature 421, 611-615 (2003). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

Opt. Express

• Y. Oishi, M. Kaku, A. Suda, F. Kannari, and K. Midorikawa, "Generation of extreme ultraviolet continuum radiation driven by a sub-10-fs two-color field," Opt. Express 14, 7230-7237 (2006). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

Opt. Lett.

• C. Vozzi, F. Calegari, E. Benedetti, S. Gasilov, G. Sansone, G. Cerullo, M. Nisoli, S. De Silvestri, and S. Stagira, "Millijoule-level phase-stabilized few-optical-cycle infrared parametric source," Opt. Lett. 32, 2957-2959 (2007). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

Phys. Lett. A

• S. Odžak and D. B. Miloševi?, "Attosecond pulse generation by a coplanar circular and static field combination," Phys. Lett. A 355, 368-372 (2006). [CrossRef]

Phys. Rev. A

• Ph. Antoine, B. Carré, Anne L'Huillier, and M. Lewenstein, "Polarization of high-order harmonics," Phys. Rev. A 55, 1314 - 1324 (1997). [CrossRef]
• C. M. Kim, I.J. Kim, and C. H. Nam, "Generation of a strong attosecond pulse train with an orthogonally polarized two-color laser field," Phys. Rev. A 72, 033817 (2005). [CrossRef]
• D. Schulze, M. Dörr, G. Sommerer, J. Ludwig, P. V. Nickles, T. Schlegel, W. Sandner, M. Drescher, U. Kleineberg, and U. Heinzmann, "Polarization of the 61st harmonic from 1053-nm laser radiation in neon," Phys. Rev. A 57, 3003 - 3007 (1998). [CrossRef]
• D. B. Miloševi?, W. Becker, and R. Kopold, "Generation of circularly polarized high-order harmonics by two-color coplanar field mixing," Phys. Rev. A 61, 063403 (2000). [CrossRef]
• X. Song, Z. Zeng, Y. Fu, B. Cai, R. Li, Y. Cheng, and Z. Xu, "Quantum path control in few-optical-cycle regime," Phys. Rev. A 76, 043830 (2007). [CrossRef]
• W. Cao, P. Lu, P. Lan, X. Wang, and Y. Li, "Control of the launch of attosecond pulses," Phys. Rev. A 75, 063423 (2007). [CrossRef]

Phys. Rev. Lett.

• T. Pfeifer, L. Gallmann, M. J. Abel, P. M. Nagel, D. M. Neumark, and S. R. Leone, "Heterodyne mixing of laser fields for temporal gating of high-order harmonic generation," Phys. Rev. Lett. 97, 163901 (2006). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• I. J. Kim, C. M. Kim, H. T. Kim, G. H. Lee, Y. S. Lee, J. Y. Park, D. Jaeyun Cho, and C. H. Nam, "Highly efficient high-harmonic generation in an orthogonally polarized two-color laser field," Phys. Rev. Lett. 94, 243901 (2005). [CrossRef]
• Z. Zeng, Y. Cheng, X. Song, R. Li, and Z. Xu, "Generation of an extreme ultraviolet supercontinuum in a two-color laser field," Phys. Rev. Lett. 98, 203901 (2007). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• B. Borca, A. V. Flegel, M. V. Frolov, N. L. Manakov, DejanB. Miloševi?, and A. F. Starace, "Static-electric-field-induced polarization effects in harmonic generation," Phys. Rev. Lett. 85, 732 - 735 (2000). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• P. B. Corkum, "Plasma perspective on strong field multiphoton ionization," Phys. Rev. Lett. 71, 1994 - 1997 (1993). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

Phys. Scr.

• R. Kienberger and F. Krausz, "Attosecond metrology comes of age," Phys. Scr. T110, 32-38 (2004). [CrossRef]

Rev. Mod. Phys.

• T. Brabec and F. Krausz, "Intense few-cycle laser fields: Frontiers of nonlinear optics," Rev. Mod. Phys. 72, 545 - 591 (2000). [CrossRef]

Science

• G. Sansone, E. Benedetti, F. Calegari, C. Vozzi, L. Avaldi, R. Flammini, L. Poletto, P. Villoresi, C. Altucci, R. Velotta, S. Stagira, S. De Silvestri, and M. Nisoli, "Isolated single-cycle attosecond pulses," Science 314, 443-446 (2006). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• Y. Mairesse, A. de Bohan, L. J. Frasinski, H. Merdji, L. C. Dinu, P. Monchicourt, P. Breger, M. Kova?ev, R. Taïeb, B. Carré, H. G. Muller, P. Agostini, and P. Salières, "Attosecond synchronization of high-harmonic soft X rays," Science  302, 1540-1543 (2003). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

Other

• S. Bivona, G. Bonanno, R. Burlon, and C. Leone, "Polarization and angular distribution of the radiation emitted in laser-assisted recombination," Phys. Rev. A 76, 031402(R) (2007). [CrossRef]
• M. Kitzler, X. Xie, A. Scrinzi, and A. Baltuska, "Optical attosecond mapping by polarization selective detection," Phys. Rev. A 76, 011801 (R) (2007). [CrossRef]
• D. B. Miloševi? and W. Becker, "Attosecond pulse trains with unusual nonlinear polarization," Phys. Rev. A 62, 011403 (R) (2000). [CrossRef]

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