We present a theoretical study of isolated attosecond pulse generation in pre-excited medium driven by an intense few-cycle laser pulse. We show that the generation of the macroscopic xuv supercontinuum is governed by the initial population of the excited state. Large initial population of the excited state leads to the high density of the free electrons in the media and strongly changes macroscopic properties of the driving pulse and the supercontinuum, and diminishes the isolated attosecond pulse generation. Instead, small initial population of 5% in the pre-excited media subjected to the few-cycle driving pulse can produce well phase-matched xuv supercontinuum, and a pure intense isolated attosecond pulse with the pulse duration of approximately 150 as and the pulse energy up to 0.5 nJ is directly obtained.

© 2011 Optical Society of America

1. F. Krausz, and M. Ivanov, “Attosecond physics,” Rev. Mod. Phys. 81, 163–234 (2009). [CrossRef]
2. 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]
3. M. I. Stockman, M. F. Kling, U. Kleineberg, and F. Krausz, “Attosecond nanoplasmonic-field microscope,” Nat. Photonics 1, 539–544 (2007). [CrossRef]
4. 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]
5. H. Mashiko, S. Gilbertson, M. Chini, X. Feng, C. Yun, H. Wang, S. D. Khan, S. Chen, and Z. Chang, “Extreme ultraviolet supercontinua supporting pulse durations of less than one atomic unit of time,” Opt. Lett. 34, 3337–3339 (2009). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
6. E. Takahashi, P. Lan, O. D. M¨ucke, Y. Nabekawa, and K. Midorikawa, “Infrared two-color multicycle laser field synthesis for generating an intense attosecond pulse,” Phys. Rev. Lett. 104, 233901 (2010). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
7. 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 Pulse,” Science 314, 443–446 (2006). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
8. Y. Zheng, Z. Zeng, P. Zou, L. Zhang, X. Li, P. Liu, R. Li, and Z. Xu, “Dynamic chirp control and pulse compression for attosecond high-order harmonic emission,” Phys. Rev. Lett. 103, 043904 (2009). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
9. P. Lan, P. Lu, Q. Li, F. 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]
10. 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]
11. F. Ferrari, F. Calegari, M. Lucchini, C. Vozzi, S. Stagira, G. Sansone, and M. Nisoli, “High-energy isolated attosecond pulses generated by above-saturation few-cycle fields,” Nat. Photonics 4, 875–879 (2010). [CrossRef]
12. P. B. Corkum, “Plasma perspective on strong field multiphoton ionization,” Phys. Rev. Lett. 71, 1994–1997 (1993). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
13. W. Hong, Y. Li, P. Lu, P. Lan, Q. Zhang, and X. Wang, “Control of quantum paths in multi-cycle regime and efficient broadband attosecond pulse generation,” J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 25, 1684–1689 (2008). [CrossRef]
14. W. Hong, P. Wei, Q. Zhang, S. Wang, and P. Lu, “Mid-infrared modulated polarization gating for ultra-broadband supercontinuum generation,” Opt. Express 18, 11308–11315 (2010). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
15. P. Lan, P. Lu, F. Li, Q. Li, W. Hong, Q. Zhang, Z. Yang, and X. Wang, “Asymmetric molecular gating for supercontinuous high harmonic generation in the plateau,” Opt. Express 16, 17542–17553 (2008). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
16. Q. Zhang, P. Lu, W. Hong, Q. Liao, and S. Wang, “Control of high-order harmonic generation from molecules lacking inversion symmetry with a polarization gating method,” Phys. Rev. A 80, 033405 (2009). [CrossRef]
17. W. Cao, P. Lu, P. Lan, X. Wang, and G. Yang, “Efficient isolated attosecond pulse generation from a multi-cycle two-color laser field,” Opt. Express 15, 530–535 (2007). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
18. K. J. Schafer, M. B. Gaarde, A. Heinrich, J. Biegert, and U. Keller, “Strong field quantum path control using attosecond pulse trains,” Phys. Rev. Lett. 92, 023003 (2004). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
19. M. B. Gaarde, K. J. Schafer, A. Heinrich, J. Biegert, and U. Keller, “Large enhancement of macroscopic yield in attosecond pulse train-assisted harmonic generation,” Phys. Rev. A 72, 013411 (2005). [CrossRef]
20. A. D. Bandrauk, and N. H. Shon, “Attosecond control of ionization and high-order harmonic generation in molecules,” Phys. Rev. A 66, 031401(R) (2002). [CrossRef]
21. K. Ishikawa, “Photoemission and Ionization of He+ under Simultaneous Irradiation of Fundamental Laser and High-Order Harmonic Pulses,” Phys. Rev. Lett. 91, 043002 (2003). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
22. 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]
23. J. B. Watson, A. Sanpera, X. Chen, and K. Burnett, “Harmonic generation from a coherent superposition of states,” Phys. Rev. A 53, R1962–R1965 (1996). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
24. D. B. Milošević, “Theoretical analysis of high-order harmonic generation from a coherent superposition of states,” J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 23, 308–317 (2006). [CrossRef]
25. M. B. Gaarde, J. L. Tate, and K. J. Schafer, “Macroscopic aspects of attosecond pulse generation,” J. Phys. At. Mol. Opt. Phys. 41, 132001 (2008). [CrossRef]
26. M. Bellini, C. Lyngå, A. Tozzi, M. B. Gaarde, T. W. Hänsch, A. L’Huillier, and C.-G. Wahlstr¨om, “Temporal coherence of ultrashort high-order harmonic pulses,” Phys. Rev. Lett. 81, 297–300 (1998). [CrossRef]
27. E. Priori, G. Cerullo, M. Nisoli, S. Stagira, S. De Silvestri, P. Villoresi, L. Poletto, P. Ceccherini, C. Altucci, R. Bruzzese, and C. de Lisio, “Nonadiabatic three-dimentional model of high-order harmonic generation in the few-optical cycle regime,” Phys. Rev. A 61, 063801 (2000). [CrossRef]
28. Z. Chang, “Single attosecond pulse and xuv supercontinuum in the high-order harmonic plateau,” Phys. Rev. A 70, 043802 (2004). [CrossRef]
29. I. P. Christov, M. M. Murnane, and H. C. Kapteyn, ““High-Harmonic Generation of Attosecond Pulses in the “Single-Cycle” Regime,” Phys. Rev. Lett. 78, 1251–1254 (1997). [CrossRef]

J. Opt. Soc. Am. B

• W. Hong, Y. Li, P. Lu, P. Lan, Q. Zhang, and X. Wang, “Control of quantum paths in multi-cycle regime and efficient broadband attosecond pulse generation,” J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 25, 1684–1689 (2008). [CrossRef]
• D. B. Milošević, “Theoretical analysis of high-order harmonic generation from a coherent superposition of states,” J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 23, 308–317 (2006). [CrossRef]

J. Phys. At. Mol. Opt. Phys.

• M. B. Gaarde, J. L. Tate, and K. J. Schafer, “Macroscopic aspects of attosecond pulse generation,” J. Phys. At. Mol. Opt. Phys. 41, 132001 (2008). [CrossRef]

Nat. Photonics

• F. Ferrari, F. Calegari, M. Lucchini, C. Vozzi, S. Stagira, G. Sansone, and M. Nisoli, “High-energy isolated attosecond pulses generated by above-saturation few-cycle fields,” Nat. Photonics 4, 875–879 (2010). [CrossRef]
• M. I. Stockman, M. F. Kling, U. Kleineberg, and F. Krausz, “Attosecond nanoplasmonic-field microscope,” Nat. Photonics 1, 539–544 (2007). [CrossRef]

Nature

• 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 generation from a multi-cycle two-color laser field,” Opt. Express 15, 530–535 (2007). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• W. Hong, P. Wei, Q. Zhang, S. Wang, and P. Lu, “Mid-infrared modulated polarization gating for ultra-broadband supercontinuum generation,” Opt. Express 18, 11308–11315 (2010). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• P. Lan, P. Lu, F. Li, Q. Li, W. Hong, Q. Zhang, Z. Yang, and X. Wang, “Asymmetric molecular gating for supercontinuous high harmonic generation in the plateau,” Opt. Express 16, 17542–17553 (2008). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

Opt. Lett.

• H. Mashiko, S. Gilbertson, M. Chini, X. Feng, C. Yun, H. Wang, S. D. Khan, S. Chen, and Z. Chang, “Extreme ultraviolet supercontinua supporting pulse durations of less than one atomic unit of time,” Opt. Lett. 34, 3337–3339 (2009). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• 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

• E. Priori, G. Cerullo, M. Nisoli, S. Stagira, S. De Silvestri, P. Villoresi, L. Poletto, P. Ceccherini, C. Altucci, R. Bruzzese, and C. de Lisio, “Nonadiabatic three-dimentional model of high-order harmonic generation in the few-optical cycle regime,” Phys. Rev. A 61, 063801 (2000). [CrossRef]
• Z. Chang, “Single attosecond pulse and xuv supercontinuum in the high-order harmonic plateau,” Phys. Rev. A 70, 043802 (2004). [CrossRef]
• M. B. Gaarde, K. J. Schafer, A. Heinrich, J. Biegert, and U. Keller, “Large enhancement of macroscopic yield in attosecond pulse train-assisted harmonic generation,” Phys. Rev. A 72, 013411 (2005). [CrossRef]
• A. D. Bandrauk, and N. H. Shon, “Attosecond control of ionization and high-order harmonic generation in molecules,” Phys. Rev. A 66, 031401(R) (2002). [CrossRef]
• 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]
• J. B. Watson, A. Sanpera, X. Chen, and K. Burnett, “Harmonic generation from a coherent superposition of states,” Phys. Rev. A 53, R1962–R1965 (1996). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• P. Lan, P. Lu, Q. Li, F. 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]
• Q. Zhang, P. Lu, W. Hong, Q. Liao, and S. Wang, “Control of high-order harmonic generation from molecules lacking inversion symmetry with a polarization gating method,” Phys. Rev. A 80, 033405 (2009). [CrossRef]

Phys. Rev. Lett.

• K. J. Schafer, M. B. Gaarde, A. Heinrich, J. Biegert, and U. Keller, “Strong field quantum path control using attosecond pulse trains,” Phys. Rev. Lett. 92, 023003 (2004). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• P. B. Corkum, “Plasma perspective on strong field multiphoton ionization,” Phys. Rev. Lett. 71, 1994–1997 (1993). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• Y. Zheng, Z. Zeng, P. Zou, L. Zhang, X. Li, P. Liu, R. Li, and Z. Xu, “Dynamic chirp control and pulse compression for attosecond high-order harmonic emission,” Phys. Rev. Lett. 103, 043904 (2009). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• E. Takahashi, P. Lan, O. D. M¨ucke, Y. Nabekawa, and K. Midorikawa, “Infrared two-color multicycle laser field synthesis for generating an intense attosecond pulse,” Phys. Rev. Lett. 104, 233901 (2010). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• K. Ishikawa, “Photoemission and Ionization of He+ under Simultaneous Irradiation of Fundamental Laser and High-Order Harmonic Pulses,” Phys. Rev. Lett. 91, 043002 (2003). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• I. P. Christov, M. M. Murnane, and H. C. Kapteyn, ““High-Harmonic Generation of Attosecond Pulses in the “Single-Cycle” Regime,” Phys. Rev. Lett. 78, 1251–1254 (1997). [CrossRef]
• M. Bellini, C. Lyngå, A. Tozzi, M. B. Gaarde, T. W. Hänsch, A. L’Huillier, and C.-G. Wahlstr¨om, “Temporal coherence of ultrashort high-order harmonic pulses,” Phys. Rev. Lett. 81, 297–300 (1998). [CrossRef]

Rev. Mod. Phys.

• F. Krausz, and M. Ivanov, “Attosecond physics,” Rev. Mod. Phys. 81, 163–234 (2009). [CrossRef]

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]
• 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 Pulse,” Science 314, 443–446 (2006). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

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