We investigate the spatial characteristics of xuv supercontinuum generation in the two-color laser field consisting of a fundamental and a weak second harmonic field. By optimizing the synthesized two-color field, the spatial profile of the xuv supercontinuum varies from annular-like to Gaussian-like and then the spatial quality is improved effectively, which is beneficial for its potential applications. Moreover, our calculation shows that the spatial quality of the supercontinuum is stable when the intensity of the controlling field varies in the acceptable fluctuation.

© 2011 OSA

1. R. Kienberger, E. Goulielmakis, M. Uiberacker, A. Baltuska, V. Yakovlev, F. Bammer, A. Scrinzi, Th. Westerwalbesloh, U. Kleineberg, U. Heinzmann, M. Drescher, and F. Krausz, “Atomic transient recorder,” Nature 427 , 817–821 (2004). [CrossRef]
2. A. E. Kaplan, “Subfemtosecond Pulses in Mode-Locked 2π Solitons of the Cascade Stimulated Raman Scattering,” Phys. Rev. Lett. 73, 1243 (1994). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
3. K. Lee, Y. H. Cha, M. S. Shin, B. H. Kim, and D. Kim, “Relativistic nonlinear Thomson scattering as attosecond x-ray source,” Phys. Rev. E 67, 026502 (2003). [CrossRef]
4. P. Lan, P. Lu, W. Cao, and X. Wang, “Attosecond and zeptosecond x-ray pulses via nonlinear Thomson backscattering,” Phys. Rev. E 72, 066501 (2005). [CrossRef]
5. M. Hentschel, R. Kienberger, Ch. Spielmann, G. A. Reider, N. Milosevic, T. Brabec, P. Corkum, U. Heinzmann, M. Drescher, and F. Krausz, “Attosecond metrology,” Nature 414, 509–513 (2001). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
6. 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]
7. I. P. Christov, M. M. Murnane, and H. C. Kapteyn, “High-harmonic generation of Attosecond Pulse in the ’Single-Cycle’ Regime,” Phys. Rev. Lett. 78, 1251 (1997). [CrossRef]
8. P. Lan, P. Lu, W. Cao, and X. Wang, “Efficient generation of an isolated single-cycle attosecond pulse,” Phys. Rev. A 76, 043808 (2007). [CrossRef]
9. W. Cao, P. Lu, P. Lan, X. Wang, and G. Yang, “Efficient isolated attosecond pulse gene ration with a multi-cycle two-color laser field,” Opt. Express 15, 530 (2007). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
10. E. Goulielmakis, M. Schultze, M. Hofstetter, V. S. Yakovlev, J. Gagnon, M. Uiberacker, A. L. Aquila, E. M. Gullikson, D. T. Attwood, R. Kienberger, F. Krausz, and U. Kleineberg, “Single-Cycle Nonlinear Optics,” Science 320, 1614–1617 (2008). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
11. P. B. Corkum, “Plasma Perspective on Strong-Field Multiphoton Ionization,” Phys. Rev. Lett. 71,1994 (1993). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
12. Z. H. Chang, “Single attosecond pulse and xuv supercontinuum in the high-order harmonic plateau,” Phys. Rev. A 70, 043802 (2004). [CrossRef]
13. Q. Zhang, P. Lu, P. Lan, W. Hong, and Z. Yang, “Multi-cycle laserdriven broadband supercontinuum with a modulated polarization gating,” Opt. Express 16, 9795–9803 (2008). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
14. W. Hong, P. Lu, Q. Li, and Q. Zhang, “Broadband water window supercontinuum generation with a tailored mid-IR pulse in neutral media,” Opt. Lett. 34, 2102–2104 (2009). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
15. P. Lan, P. Lu, Q. Li, W. Hong, and Q. Zhang, “Macroscopic effects for quantum control of broadband isolated attosecond pulse generation with a two-color field,” Phys. Rev. A 79, 043413 (2009). [CrossRef]
16. 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]
17. J. E. Muffett, C. G. Wahlström, and M. H. R. Hutchinson, “Numerical modelling of the spatial profiles of high-order harmonics,” J. Phys. B 27, 5693–5706 (1994). [CrossRef]
18. M. Lewenstein, P. Salières, and A. L’Huillier, “Phase of the atomic polarization in high-order harmonic generation,” Phys. Rev. A 52, 4747 (1995). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
19. P. Salières, T. Ditmire, K. S. Budil, M. D. Perry, and A. L’Huillier, “Spatial profiles of high-order harmonics generated by a femtosecond Cr:LiSAF laser,” J. Phys. B 27, L217–L222 (1994). [CrossRef]
20. P. Salières, A. L’Huillier, and M. Lewenstein, “Coherence Control of High-order Harmonics,” Phys. Rev. Lett. 74, 3776 (1995). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
21. V. Tosa, H. T. Kim, I. J. Kim, and C. H. Nam, “High-order harmonic generation by chirped and self-guided femtosecond laser pulses.I.Spatial and spectral analysis,” Phys. Rev. A 71, 063807 (2005). [CrossRef]
22. Y. Tamaki, J. Itatani, M. Obara, and K. Midorikawa, “Optimization of conversion efficiency and spatial quality of high-order harmonic generation,” Phys. Rev. A 62, 063802 (2000). [CrossRef]
23. M. Lewenstein, Ph. Balcou, M. Yu. Ivanov, A. L’Huillier, and P. B. Corkum, “Theory of high-harmonic generation by low-frequency laser fields,” Phys. Rev. A 49, 2117 (1994). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
24. 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 (1986).
25. E. Priori, G. Cerullo, M. Nisoli, S. Stagira, S. D. Silvestri, P. Villoresi, L. Poletto, P. Ceccherini, C. Altucci, R. Bruzzese, and C. de Lisio, “Nonadiabatic three-dimensional model of high-order harmonic generation in the few-optical-cycle regime,” Phys. Rev. A 61, 063801 (2000). [CrossRef]
26. W. Cao, P. Lu, P. Lan, X. Wang, and G. Yang, “Single-attosecond pulse generation with an intense multicycle driving pulse,” Phys. Rev. A 74, 063821 (2006). [CrossRef]
27. M. B. Gaarde, J. L. Tate, and K. J. Schafer, “Macroscopic aspects of attosecond pulse generation,” J. Phys. B 41, 132001 (2008). [CrossRef]
28. A. L’Huillier, P. Balcou, S. Candel, k. J. Schafer, and K. C. Kulander, “Calculations of high-order harmonic-generation processes in xenon at 1064 nm,” Phys. Rev. A 46, 2778 (1992). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

J. Phys. B

• J. E. Muffett, C. G. Wahlström, and M. H. R. Hutchinson, “Numerical modelling of the spatial profiles of high-order harmonics,” J. Phys. B 27, 5693–5706 (1994). [CrossRef]
• P. Salières, T. Ditmire, K. S. Budil, M. D. Perry, and A. L’Huillier, “Spatial profiles of high-order harmonics generated by a femtosecond Cr:LiSAF laser,” J. Phys. B 27, L217–L222 (1994). [CrossRef]
• M. B. Gaarde, J. L. Tate, and K. J. Schafer, “Macroscopic aspects of attosecond pulse generation,” J. Phys. B 41, 132001 (2008). [CrossRef]

Nature

• M. Hentschel, R. Kienberger, Ch. Spielmann, G. A. Reider, N. Milosevic, T. Brabec, P. Corkum, U. Heinzmann, M. Drescher, and F. Krausz, “Attosecond metrology,” Nature 414, 509–513 (2001). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

Nature 427

• R. Kienberger, E. Goulielmakis, M. Uiberacker, A. Baltuska, V. Yakovlev, F. Bammer, A. Scrinzi, Th. Westerwalbesloh, U. Kleineberg, U. Heinzmann, M. Drescher, and F. Krausz, “Atomic transient recorder,” Nature 427 , 817–821 (2004). [CrossRef]

Opt. Express

• W. Cao, P. Lu, P. Lan, X. Wang, and G. Yang, “Efficient isolated attosecond pulse gene ration with a multi-cycle two-color laser field,” Opt. Express 15, 530 (2007). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• Q. Zhang, P. Lu, P. Lan, W. Hong, and Z. Yang, “Multi-cycle laserdriven broadband supercontinuum with a modulated polarization gating,” Opt. Express 16, 9795–9803 (2008). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

Opt. Lett.

• W. Hong, P. Lu, Q. Li, and Q. Zhang, “Broadband water window supercontinuum generation with a tailored mid-IR pulse in neutral media,” Opt. Lett. 34, 2102–2104 (2009). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

Phys. Rev. A

• P. Lan, P. Lu, Q. Li, W. Hong, and Q. Zhang, “Macroscopic effects for quantum control of broadband isolated attosecond pulse generation with a two-color field,” Phys. Rev. A 79, 043413 (2009). [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]
• M. Lewenstein, P. Salières, and A. L’Huillier, “Phase of the atomic polarization in high-order harmonic generation,” Phys. Rev. A 52, 4747 (1995). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• P. Lan, P. Lu, W. Cao, and X. Wang, “Efficient generation of an isolated single-cycle attosecond pulse,” Phys. Rev. A 76, 043808 (2007). [CrossRef]
• A. L’Huillier, P. Balcou, S. Candel, k. J. Schafer, and K. C. Kulander, “Calculations of high-order harmonic-generation processes in xenon at 1064 nm,” Phys. Rev. A 46, 2778 (1992). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• Z. H. Chang, “Single attosecond pulse and xuv supercontinuum in the high-order harmonic plateau,” Phys. Rev. A 70, 043802 (2004). [CrossRef]
• E. Priori, G. Cerullo, M. Nisoli, S. Stagira, S. D. Silvestri, P. Villoresi, L. Poletto, P. Ceccherini, C. Altucci, R. Bruzzese, and C. de Lisio, “Nonadiabatic three-dimensional model of high-order harmonic generation in the few-optical-cycle regime,” Phys. Rev. A 61, 063801 (2000). [CrossRef]
• W. Cao, P. Lu, P. Lan, X. Wang, and G. Yang, “Single-attosecond pulse generation with an intense multicycle driving pulse,” Phys. Rev. A 74, 063821 (2006). [CrossRef]
• V. Tosa, H. T. Kim, I. J. Kim, and C. H. Nam, “High-order harmonic generation by chirped and self-guided femtosecond laser pulses.I.Spatial and spectral analysis,” Phys. Rev. A 71, 063807 (2005). [CrossRef]
• Y. Tamaki, J. Itatani, M. Obara, and K. Midorikawa, “Optimization of conversion efficiency and spatial quality of high-order harmonic generation,” Phys. Rev. A 62, 063802 (2000). [CrossRef]
• M. Lewenstein, Ph. Balcou, M. Yu. Ivanov, A. L’Huillier, and P. B. Corkum, “Theory of high-harmonic generation by low-frequency laser fields,” Phys. Rev. A 49, 2117 (1994). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

Phys. Rev. E

• K. Lee, Y. H. Cha, M. S. Shin, B. H. Kim, and D. Kim, “Relativistic nonlinear Thomson scattering as attosecond x-ray source,” Phys. Rev. E 67, 026502 (2003). [CrossRef]
• P. Lan, P. Lu, W. Cao, and X. Wang, “Attosecond and zeptosecond x-ray pulses via nonlinear Thomson backscattering,” Phys. Rev. E 72, 066501 (2005). [CrossRef]

Phys. Rev. Lett.

• A. E. Kaplan, “Subfemtosecond Pulses in Mode-Locked 2π Solitons of the Cascade Stimulated Raman Scattering,” Phys. Rev. Lett. 73, 1243 (1994). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• 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. P. Christov, M. M. Murnane, and H. C. Kapteyn, “High-harmonic generation of Attosecond Pulse in the ’Single-Cycle’ Regime,” Phys. Rev. Lett. 78, 1251 (1997). [CrossRef]
• P. B. Corkum, “Plasma Perspective on Strong-Field Multiphoton Ionization,” Phys. Rev. Lett. 71,1994 (1993). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• P. Salières, A. L’Huillier, and M. Lewenstein, “Coherence Control of High-order Harmonics,” Phys. Rev. Lett. 74, 3776 (1995). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

Science

• E. Goulielmakis, M. Schultze, M. Hofstetter, V. S. Yakovlev, J. Gagnon, M. Uiberacker, A. L. Aquila, E. M. Gullikson, D. T. Attwood, R. Kienberger, F. Krausz, and U. Kleineberg, “Single-Cycle Nonlinear Optics,” Science 320, 1614–1617 (2008). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

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 (1986).

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