We demonstrate control over attosecond pulse generation and shaping by numerically optimizing the synthesis of few-cycle to sub-cycle driver waveforms. The optical waveform synthesis takes place in an ultrabroad spectral band covering the ultraviolet
-infrared domain. These optimized driver waves are used for ultrashort single and double attosecond pulse production (with tunable separation) revealing the potentials of the light wave synthesizer device demonstrated by Wirth et al. [Science 334, 195 (2011)]. The results are also analyzed with respect to attosecond pulse propagation phenomena.
High-order harmonic generation in the presence of a chirped THz pulse is investigated numerically with a complete 3D non-adiabatic model. The assisting THz pulse illuminates the HHG gas cell laterally inducing quasi-phase-matching. We demonstrate tha
t it is possible to compensate the phase mismatch during propagation and extend the macroscopic cutoff of a propagated strong IR pulse to the single-dipole cutoff. We obtain two orders of magnitude increase in the harmonic efficiency of cutoff harmonics ($approx$170 eV) using a THz pulse of constant wavelength, and a further factor of 3 enhancement when a chirped THz pulse is used.
We numerically investigate the use of strong THz radiation in assisting single attosecond pulse generation by few-cycle, 800 nm laser pulses. We optimize focusing conditions to generate short and powerful single attosecond pulses of high-energy photo
ns by keeping the parameters of the THz field within the limits achieved experimentally. We show that using optimal focusing geometry isolated attosecond pulses shorter than 100 as can be obtained even in the absence of further gating or XUV compression techniques, using an 8 fs generating pulse. Furthermore, quantum path control of short- and long-trajectory components is demonstrated by varying the delay between the THz and IR pulses.
The main effects of an intense THz pulse on gas high harmonic generation are studied via trajectory analysis on the single atom level. Spectral and temporal modifications to the generated radiation are highlighted.
High-order harmonic generation by few-cycle 800 nm laser pulses in neon gas in the presence of a strong terahertz (THz) field is investigated numerically with propagation effects taken into account. Our calculations show that the combination of THz f
ields with up to 12 fs laser pulses can be an effective gating technique to generate single attosecond pulses. We show that in the presence of the strong THz field only a single attosecond burst can be phase matched, whereas radiation emitted during other half-cycles disappears during propagation. The cutoff is extended and a wide supercontinuum appears in the near-field spectra, extending the available spectral width for isolated attosecond pulse generation from 23 to 93 eV. We demonstrate that phase matching effects are responsible for the generation of isolated attosecond pulses, even in conditions when single atom response yields an attosecond pulse train.
