In this work, we exploit HHG in a noble gas to merge the azimuthally twisted wavefront of a vortex beam and the spatially varying polarization of a vector beam, yielding EUV vector-vortex beams (VVB) that are tailored simultaneously in their SAM and OAM. Employing a high-resolution EUV Hartmann wavefront sensor (EUV HASO, Imagine Optic), we perform the complete spatial intensity and wavefront characterization of the vertical polarization component of the 25th harmonic beam centered at a wavelength of 32.6 nm. By driving the HHG using IR VVB, we show that HHG enables the production of EUV VVB exhibiting radial, azimuthal, or even intermediate polarization distribution. Furthermore, the wavefront characterization allows for the unambiguous confirmation of the topological charge and OAM helicity of the upconverted harmonic VVB. Notably, our work reveals that HHG provides a means for the synchronous and controlled manipulation of SAM and OAM. The production of ultrafast EUV VVB with high OAM and adjustable polarization distributions opens up promising prospects for their applications at nanometric spatial and sub-femtosecond temporal resolutions using a table-top harmonic source.
Non-linear ionization is the physical excitation mechanism by which an ultrashort laser locally transforms a dielectric from an initial insulating to a highly conductive state with considerable changes on its local electrical and optical properties. When controlled, this local excitation of the material yields well-calibrated macroscopic post-mortem transformation on which every optimized process of laser micromachining builds on. The work presented here is part of this perspective to get control of such laser-induced transformation, aiming to propose an accurate experimental evaluation of laser energy deposition at the surface of a dielectric material exposed to ultrashort pulses, and in particular of its produced free-electron – hole plasma density. For that objective, we conceive appropriate single-shot energy balance experiments with specifically designed dielectric targets consisting of wedged and plane-parallel samples of different thickness (below and above the Rayleigh of the focused laser) in order to observe the free-electron hole plasma produced at the dielectric front surface and also to act on the ratio between photo-ionization and total beam losses. Experiments consists in measuring the incident, reflected and transmitted energy on a wide range of incident fluence (<< Fth to ~ Fth, where Fth indicates the laser-induced ablation threshold) by means of calibrated and identical photodiodes in order to establish a precise energy balance of the interaction. We choose fused silica material because of its popularity for micromachining and photonics applications and we also use ultrashort femtosecond pulses ( 15 - 100 fs, 800 nm) to vary the photo-ionization rate and to well decorrelate ionization process from hydrodynamics and any energy transfer and recombination processes. The information retrieved from these experiments and further confronted to Drude-Lorentz theoretical framework helps us understanding ionization processes (photo-ionization, impact ionization) and their respective importance for dielectric macroscopic transformation in the ablation regime.
After 30 years since the discovery of the intrinsic orbital angular momentum (OAM) possessed by certain beams, a plethora of applications have been developed in diverse fields such as communications, astrophysics, and biochemistry. Meanwhile, injecting high-order harmonics (HOH) into krypton amplifier plasmas has emerged as a promising alternative to Free Electron Lasers (FEL) for generating table-top, XUV coherent radiation sources. This work brings together these two concepts and asks the following question: what happens when an HOH with OAM is injected into a plasma? Does the amplified beam retain the same OAM, or is this property affected? Understanding the OAM response to this process lays the foundation for new applications. Simulations using the 3D, time-dependent, Maxwell-Bloch code Dagon show that OAM is conserved in low-density plasmas. However, at higher densities, although the OAM is still preserved, the density profiles leave increasing footprints in phase patterns in the form of phase jumps curvature. Finally, a study has been conducted for a plasma with a waveguide, further supporting the potential of OAM for plasma diagnosis.
High-order harmonic generation (HHG) is an instrumental process enabling the transfer of short infrared pulse coherence properties into the Extreme Ultraviolet (EUV) spectral range. This phenomenon has opened the way to ultrafast pump-probe experiments at the nanoscale level. Recently, HHG has provided a straightforward approach to frequency upconvert beams structured in their phase and/or polarization. An emblematic example is the optical vortex beam, which is characterized by an azimuthally twisting wavefront. From a fundamental point of view, such a beam exhibits a phase singularity on the propagation axis and is carrying orbital angular momentum (OAM). Vector beams denote another structured beam family, exhibiting a spatially varying polarization.
In this paper, we will present our recent results on the generation and characterization of EUV vortex beams exhibiting very high topological charges (up to 100). Besides, using a similar HHG up-conversion scheme, we will show the production of so-called EUV vector-vortex beams that present the combined characteristics of the vortex and vector beams. Finally, progress on plasma-based soft x-ray laser amplification of such structured beams will be outlined,
We report temporal coherence measurement of solid-target plasma-based soft X-ray laser (XRL) in amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) mode. By changing the XRL pumping angle, we generate lasing at two-times higher electron density than the routine condition. A relatively shorter coherence time at a higher pumping angle indicates a clear spectral signature of higher electron density in the gain region. We probe the amplification dynamics of XRL in routine, and high electron density conditions to confirm gain-duration reduction resulting from ionization gating in the latter case. We also present recent results on the seeding of a vortex beam carrying orbital angular momentum (OAM) in XRL plasma. A small part of the high topological charge extreme ultraviolet (EUV) vortex is injected in XRL. These preliminary results suggest that the vortex seed indeed can be efficiently amplified. In the end, we propose a pathway towards the seeding of the complete vortex beam and wavefront characterization of the amplified beam.
We present an experimental intensity and wavefront characterization of the infrared vortex driver as well as the extreme ultraviolet vortex obtained through high harmonic generation in an extended generation medium. In a loose focusing geometry, an intense vortex beam obtained through phase-matched absorption-limited high harmonic generation in a 15 mm long Argon filled gas-cell permits single-shot characterization of the vortex structure. Moreover, our study validates the multiplicative law of momentum conservation even for such an extended generation medium.
Access to the requested content is limited to institutions that have purchased or subscribe to SPIE eBooks.
You are receiving this notice because your organization may not have SPIE eBooks access.*
*Shibboleth/Open Athens users─please
sign in
to access your institution's subscriptions.
To obtain this item, you may purchase the complete book in print or electronic format on
SPIE.org.
INSTITUTIONAL Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.
PERSONAL Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.