Quasi-phase-matching high-harmonic radiation using chirped THz pulses

Phys Rev Lett. 2012 May 11;108(19):193903. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.108.193903. Epub 2012 May 8.

Abstract

High-order harmonic generation in the presence of a chirped THz pulse is investigated numerically with a complete 3D nonadiabatic model. The assisting THz pulse illuminates the high-order harmonic generation gas cell laterally inducing quasi-phase-matching. We demonstrate that 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 2 orders of magnitude increase in the harmonic efficiency of cutoff harmonics (≈170 eV) using a THz pulse of constant wavelength, and a further factor of 3 enhancement when a chirped THz pulse is used.