Intra-oscillator high harmonic source reaching 100-eV photon energy

Resonant enhancement inside an optical cavity has been a wide-spread approach to increase efficiency of nonlinear optical conversion processes while reducing the demands on the driving laser power. This concept has been particularly important for high harmonic generation XUV sources, where passive femtosecond enhancement cavities allowed significant increase in repetition rates required for applications in photoelectron spectroscopy, XUV frequency comb spectroscopy, including the recent endeavor of thorium nuclear clock development. In addition to passive cavities, it has been shown that comparable driving conditions can be achieved inside mode-locked thin-disk laser oscillators, offering a simplified single-stage alternative. This approach is less sensitive to losses thanks to the presence of gain inside the cavity and should thus allow higher conversion efficiencies through tolerating higher intensity in the gas target. Here, we show that the intra-oscillator approach can indeed surpass the much more mature technology of passive enhancement cavities in terms of XUV flux, even reaching comparable values to single-pass sources based on chirped-pulse fiber amplifier lasers. Our system operates at 17 MHz repetition rate generating photon energies between 60 eV and 100 eV. Importantly, this covers the highly attractive wavelength for the silicon industry of 13.5 nm at which our source delivers 60 nW of outcoupled average power per harmonic order.

Spatiotemporal imaging and shaping of electron wave functions using novel attoclock interferometry

Electrons detached from atoms by photoionization carry valuable information about light-atom interactions. Characterizing and shaping the electron wave function on its natural timescale is of paramount importance for understanding and controlling ultrafast electron dynamics in atoms, molecules and condensed matter. Here we propose a novel attoclock interferometry to shape and image the electron wave function in atomic photoionization. Using a combination of a strong circularly polarized second harmonic and a weak linearly polarized fundamental field, we spatiotemporally modulate the atomic potential barrier and shape the electron wave functions, which are mapped into a temporal interferometry. By analyzing the two-color phase-resolved and angle-resolved photoelectron interference, we are able to reconstruct the spatiotemporal evolution of the shaping on the amplitude and phase of electron wave function in momentum space within the optical cycle, from which we identify the quantum nature of strong-field ionization and reveal the effect of the spatiotemporal properties of atomic potential on the departing electron. This study provides a new approach for spatiotemporal shaping and imaging of electron wave function in intense light-matter interactions and holds great potential for resolving ultrafast electronic dynamics in molecules, solids, and liquids.

Harmonic Suppression Induced by Three-Electron Dynamics of Li in Strong Laser Fields

We build a model to elucidate the high harmonic generation in combined EUV and midinfrared laser fields by embodying the spin-resolved three-electron dynamics. The EUV pulse ionizes an inner-shell electron, and the midinfrared laser drives the photoelectron and steers the electron-ion rescattering. Depending on the spin of the photoelectron, the residual ion including two bound electrons can be either in a single spin configuration or in a coherent superposition of different spin configurations. In the latter case, the two electrons in the ion swap their orbits, leading to a deep valley in the harmonic spectrum. The model results agree with the time-dependent Schrödinger equation simulations including three active electrons. The intriguing picture explored in this work is fundamentally distinguished from all reported scenarios relied on spin-orbit coupling, but originates from the exchanges asymmetry of two-electron wave functions.

A multi-fragment real-time extension of projected density matrix embedding theory: Non-equilibrium electron dynamics in extended systems

In this work, we derive a multi-fragment real-time extension of the projected density matrix embedding theory (pDMET) designed to treat non-equilibrium electron dynamics in strongly correlated systems. As in the previously developed static pDMET, the real time pDMET partitions the total system into many fragments; the coupling between each fragment and the rest of the system is treated through a compact representation of the environment in terms of a quantum bath. The real-time pDMET involves simultaneously propagating the wavefunctions for each separate fragment–bath embedding system along with an auxiliary mean-field wavefunction of the total system. The equations of motion are derived by (i) projecting the time-dependent Schrödinger equation in the fragment and bath space associated with each separate fragment and by (ii) enforcing the pDMET matching conditions between the global 1-particle reduced density matrix (1-RDM) obtained from the fragment calculations and the mean-field 1-RDM at all points in time. The accuracy of the method is benchmarked through comparisons to time-dependent density-matrix renormalization group and time-dependent Hartree–Fock (TDHF) theory; the methods were applied to a one- and two-dimensional single-impurity Anderson model and multi-impurity Anderson models with ordered and disordered distributions of the impurities. The results demonstrate a large improvement over TDHF and rapid convergence to the exact dynamics with an increase in fragment size. Our results demonstrate that the real-time pDMET is a promising and flexible method that balances accuracy and efficiency to simulate the non-equilibrium electron dynamics in heterogeneous systems of large size.

Perspectives of Gas Phase Ion Chemistry: Spectroscopy and Modeling

The study of ions in the gas phase has a long history and has involved both chemists and physicists. The interplay of their competences with the use of very sophisticated commercial and/or homemade instrumentations and theoretical models has improved the knowledge of thermodynamics and kinetics of many chemical reactions, even if still many stages of these processes need to be fully understood. The new technologies and the novel free-electron laser facilities based on plasma acceleration open new opportunities to investigate the chemical reactions in some unrevealed fundamental aspects. The synchrotron light source can be put beside the FELs, and by mass spectrometric techniques and spectroscopies coupled with versatile ion sources it is possible to really change the state of the art of the ion chemistry in different areas such as atmospheric and astro chemistry, plasma chemistry, biophysics, and interstellar medium (ISM). In this manuscript we review the works performed by a joint combination of the experimental studies of ion–molecule reactions with synchrotron radiation and theoretical models adapted and developed to the experimental evidence. The review concludes with the perspectives of ion–molecule reactions by using FEL instrumentations as well as pump probe measurements and the initial attempt in the development of more realistic theoretical models for the prospective improvement of our predictive capability.

Attosecond spectroscopy for the investigation of ultrafast dynamics in atomic, molecular and solid-state physics

Since the first demonstration of the generation of attosecond pulses (1 as = 10^-18s) in the extreme-ultraviolet spectral region, several measurement techniques have been introduced, at the beginning for the temporal characterization of the pulses, and immediately after for the investigation of electronic and nuclear ultrafast dynamics in atoms, molecules and solids with unprecedented temporal resolution. The attosecond spectroscopic tools established in the last two decades, together with the development of sophisticated theoretical methods for the interpretation of the experimental outcomes, allowed to unravel and investigate physical processes never observed before, such as the delay in photoemission from atoms and solids, the motion of electrons in molecules after prompt ionization which precede any notable nuclear motion, the temporal evolution of the tunneling process in dielectrics, and many others. This review focused on applications of attosecond techniques to the investigation of ultrafast processes in atoms, molecules and solids. Thanks to the introduction and ongoing developments of new spectroscopic techniques, the attosecond science is rapidly moving towards the investigation, understanding and control of coupled electron-nuclear dynamics in increasingly complex systems, with ever more accurate and complete investigation techniques. Here we will review the most common techniques presenting the latest results in atoms, molecules and solids.

Theory of electronic resonances: fundamental aspects and recent advances

Electronic resonances are states that are unstable towards loss of electrons. They play critical roles in high-energy environments across chemistry, physics, and biology but are also relevant to processes under ambient conditions that involve unbound electrons. This feature article focuses on complex-variable techniques such as complex scaling and complex absorbing potentials that afford a treatment of electronic resonances in terms of discrete square-integrable eigenstates of non-Hermitian Hamiltonians with complex energy. Fundamental aspects of these techniques as well as their integration into molecular electronic-structure theory are discussed and an overview of some recent developments is given: analytic gradient theory for electronic resonances, the application of rank-reduction techniques and quantum embedding to them, as well as approaches for evaluating partial decay widths.

Phase-of-the-Phase Electron Momentum Spectroscopy on Single Metal Atoms in Helium Nanodroplets

Magnesium atoms fully embedded in helium nanodroplets are exposed to two-color laser pulses, which trigger multiphoton above-threshold ionization (ATI). This allows exemplary study of the contribution of a dense, neutral, and finite medium on single electron propagation. The angular-resolved photoelectron spectra show striking differences with respect to results obtained on free atoms. Scattering of the individual Mg photoelectrons, when traversing the neutral helium environment, causes the angular distribution to become almost isotropic. Furthermore, the appearance of higher-energy electrons is observed, indicating the impact of the droplet on the concerted emission process. Phase-of-the-phase spectroscopy, however, reveals a marked loss in the 2ω-ω phase dependence of the electron signal. Taking into account sideband formation on a quantitative level, a Monte Carlo simulation which includes laser-assisted electron scattering can reproduce the experimental spectra and give insights into the strong-field-induced electron emission from disordered systems.

High-Harmonic Generation Approaching the Quantum Critical Point of Strongly Correlated Systems

By employing the exact diagonalization method, we investigate the high-harmonic generation (HHG) of the correlated systems under the strong laser irradiation. For the extended Hubbard model on a periodic chain, HHG close to the quantum critical point (QCP) is more significant compared to two neighboring gapped phases (i.e., charge-density-wave and spin-density wave states), especially in low frequencies. We confirm that the systems in the vicinity of the QCP are supersensitive to the external field and more optical-transition channels via excited states are responsible for HHG. This feature holds the potential of obtaining high-efficiency harmonics by making use of materials approaching QCP. Based on the two-dimensional Haldane model, we further propose that the even- or odd-order components of generated harmonics can be promisingly regarded as spectral signals to distinguish the topologically ordered phases from locally ordered ones. Our findings in this Letter pave the way to achieve ultrafast light source from HHG in strongly correlated materials and to study quantum phase transition by nonlinear optics in strong laser fields.

Enhanced Amplification of Attosecond Pulses in a Hydrogen-like Plasma-Based X-ray Laser Modulated by an Infrared Field at the Second Harmonic of Fundamental Frequency

In a recent work (Antonov et al., Physical Review Letters 123, 243903 (2019)), it was shown that it is possible to amplify a train of attosecond pulses, which are produced from the radiation of high harmonics of the infrared field of the fundamental frequency, in the active medium of a plasma-based X-ray laser modulated by a replica of the infrared field of the same frequency. In this paper, we show that much higher amplification can be achieved using the second harmonic of the fundamental frequency for modulating of a hydrogen-like active medium. The physical reason for such enhanced amplification is the possibility to use all (even and odd) sidebands induced in the gain spectrum in the case of the modulating field of the doubled fundamental frequency, while only one set of sidebands (either even or odd) could participate in amplification in the case of the modulating field of the fundamental frequency due to the fact that the spectral components of the high-harmonic field are separated by twice the fundamental frequency. Using the plasma of hydrogen-like C5+ ions with an inverted transition wavelength of 3.38 nm in the water window as an example, it is shown that the use of a modulating field at a doubled fundamental frequency makes it possible to increase the intensity of amplified attosecond pulses by an order of magnitude in comparison with the previously studied case of a fundamental frequency modulating field.

Synchronized beamline at FLASH2 based on high-order harmonic generation for two-color dynamics studies

We present the design, integration, and operation of the novel vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) beamline installed at the free-electron laser (FEL) FLASH. The VUV source is based on high-order harmonic generation (HHG) in gas and is driven by an optical laser system synchronized with the timing structure of the FEL. Ultrashort pulses in the spectral range from 10 to 40 eV are coupled with the FEL in the beamline FL26, which features a reaction microscope (REMI) permanent endstation for time-resolved studies of ultrafast dynamics in atomic and molecular targets. The connection of the high-pressure gas HHG source to the ultra-high vacuum FEL beamline requires a compact and reliable system, able to encounter the challenging vacuum requirements and coupling conditions. First commissioning results show the successful operation of the beamline, reaching a VUV focused beam size of about 20 µm at the REMI endstation. Proof-of-principle photo-electron momentum measurements in argon indicate the source capabilities for future two-color pump-probe experiments.

Multi-configuration electron-nuclear dynamics: An open-shell approach

The multi-configuration electron-nuclear dynamics for open shell systems with a spin-unrestricted formalism is described. The mean fields are evaluated using second-order reduced density matrices for electronic and nuclear degrees of freedom. Applications to light-element diatomics including equilibrium geometries, electronic energies, dipole moments, and absorption spectra are presented. The von Neumann entropies for different spin states of a LiH molecule are compared.

Many-electron dynamics in laser-driven molecules: wavefunction theory vs. density functional theory

With recent experimental advances in laser-driven electron dynamics in polyatomic molecules, the need arises for their reliable theoretical modelling. Among efficient, yet fairly accurate methods for many-electron dynamics are Time-Dependent Configuration Interaction Singles (TD-CIS) (a Wave Function Theory (WFT) method), and Real-Time Time-Dependent Density Functional Theory (RT-TD-DFT), respectively. Here we compare TD-CIS combined with extended Atomic Orbital (AO) bases, TD-CIS/AO, with RT-TD-DFT in a grid representation of the Kohn-Sham orbitals, RT-TD-DFT/Grid. Possible ionization losses are treated by complex absorbing potentials in energy space (for TD-CIS/AO) or real space (for RT-TD-DFT), respectively. The comparison is made for two test cases: (i) state-to-state transitions using resonant lasers (π-pulses), i.e., bound electron motion, and (ii) large-amplitude electron motion leading to High Harmonic Generation (HHG). Test systems are a H2 molecule and cis- and trans-1,2-dichlorethene, C2H2Cl2, (DCE). From time-dependent electronic energies, dipole moments and from HHG spectra, the following observations are made: first, for bound state-to-state transitions enforced by π-pulses, TD-CIS nicely accounts for the expected population inversion in contrast to RT-TD-DFT, in agreement with earlier findings. Secondly, when using laser pulses under non-resonant conditions, dipole moments and lower harmonics in HHG spectra are obtained by TD-CIS/AO which are in good agreement with those obtained with RT-TD-DFT/Grid. Deviations become larger for higher harmonics and at low laser intensities, i.e., for low-intensity HHG signals. We also carefully test effects of basis sets for TD-CIS/AO and grid size for RT-TD-DFT/Grid, different exchange-correlation functionals in RT-TD-DFT, and absorbing boundaries. Finally, for the present examples, TD-CIS/AO is observed to be at least an order of magnitude more computationally efficient than RT-TD-DFT/Grid.

Electron Dynamics with the Time-Dependent Density Matrix Renormalization Group

In this work, we simulate the electron dynamics in molecular systems with the time-dependent density matrix renormalization group (TD-DMRG) algorithm. We leverage the generality of the so-called tangent-space TD-DMRG formulation and design a computational framework in which the dynamics is driven by the exact nonrelativistic electronic Hamiltonian. We show that by parametrizing the wave function as a matrix product state, we can accurately simulate the dynamics of systems including up to 20 electrons and 32 orbitals. We apply the TD-DMRG algorithm to three problems that are hardly targeted by time-independent methods: the calculation of molecular (hyper)polarizabilities, the simulation of electronic absorption spectra, and the study of ultrafast ionization dynamics.

Thermal effects in molecular gas-filled hollow-core fibers

Few-cycle sources with high average powers are required for applications to attosecond science. Raman-enhanced spectral broadening of Yb-doped laser amplifiers in molecular gases can yield few-cycle pulses, but thermal excitation of vibrational and rotational degrees of freedom may preclude high-power operation. Here we investigate changes in the spectral broadening associated with repetitive laser interactions in an ${{\rm{N}}_2}{\rm{O}}$-filled hollow-core fiber. By comparing experimental measurements of the spectrum associated with each laser pulse to simulations based on a density matrix model, we find that losses in a spectral bandwidth and transmission are largely dominated by thermal excitation of the gas.

Multi-wave mixing in the high harmonic regime: monitoring electronic dynamics

It has been demonstrated that electronic coherences across many eV can be detected in pump-probe experiments involving high harmonic sources. An additional degree of control over the phase matching can be employed by investigating a more general class of multi-wave mixing. Non-collinear multi-wave mixing of high harmonics with energy (q₁ω₁ + q₂ω₂) can be selectively detected along the direction of (q₁k₁ + q₂k₂). Simulations based on a recently developed semi-perturbative approach show that only the specific harmonic signals with q₁ω₁ close to the energy difference between ground state and excited states are observable when the two input pulses are well separated in time. The coherent dynamics between different states can be selectively tracked by detecting the time-delay dependent signals with different q₁k₁, which can overcome the potential spectral congestion in real experiments. Additionally, such non-collinear geometry can be used to separate the dephasing induced decay and collision induced recovery behaviors of pump-probe high harmonic signal typically observed in the time-resolved high harmonic pump-probe signals.

High-power few-cycle near-infrared OPCPA for soft X-ray generation at 100 kHz

We present a near-infrared optical parametric chirped-pulse amplifier (OPCPA) and soft X-ray (SXR) high-harmonic generation system. The OPCPA produces few-cycle pulses at a center wavelength of 800 nm and operates at a high repetition rate of 100 kHz. It is seeded by fully programmable amplitude and phase controlled ultra-broadband pulses from a Ti:sapphire oscillator. The output from the OPCPA system was compressed to near-transform-limited 9.3-fs pulses. Fully characterized pulse compression was recorded for an average power of 22.5 W, demonstrating pulses with a peak power greater than 21 GW. Without full temporal characterization, high-power operation was achieved up to 35 W. We demonstrate that at such high repetition rates, spatiotemporally flattened pump pulses can be achieved through a cascaded second-harmonic generation approach with an efficiency of more than 70%. This combination provides a compelling OPCPA architecture for scaling the peak power of high-repetition-rate ultra-broadband systems in the near-infrared. The output of this 800-nm OPCPA system was used to generate SXR radiation reaching 190 eV photon energy through high-harmonic generation in helium.

Isolated single-cycle extreme-ultraviolet pulses from undulator radiation

We propose a method to generate an isolated single-cycle pulse in the extreme-ultraviolet spectral region using a broadband conventional laser. The uncompressed laser pulse imprints a chirped sinusoid current profile onto a relativistic electron beam. As the beam propagates along a specifically tailored magnetic field of an undulator, it produces an isolated single-cycle pulse. For moderate laser intensities (0.2 mJ per pulse) and typical operating parameters of current electron accelerators, we predict a 26 as, 5 GW peak-power pulse spanning wavelengths down to 15 nm.

Environmental Effects with Frozen-Density Embedding in Real-Time Time-Dependent Density Functional Theory Using Localized Basis Functions

Frozen-density embedding (FDE) represents a versatile embedding scheme to describe the environmental effect on electron dynamics in molecular systems. The extension of the general theory of FDE to the real-time time-dependent Kohn-Sham method has previously been presented and implemented in plane waves and periodic boundary conditions [Pavanello, M.; J. Chem. Phys. 2015, 142, 154116]. In the current paper, we extend our recent formulation of the real-time time-dependent Kohn-Sham method based on localized basis set functions and developed within the Psi4NumPy framework to the FDE scheme. The latter has been implemented in its "uncoupled" flavor (in which the time evolution is only carried out for the active subsystem, while the environment subsystems remain at their ground state), using and adapting the FDE implementation already available in the PyEmbed module of the scripting framework PyADF. The implementation was facilitated by the fact that both Psi4NumPy and PyADF, being native Python API, provided an ideal framework of development using the Python advantages in terms of code readability and reusability. We employed this new implementation to investigate the stability of the time-propagation procedure, which is based on an efficient predictor/corrector second-order midpoint Magnus propagator employing an exact diagonalization, in combination with the FDE scheme. We demonstrate that the inclusion of the FDE potential does not introduce any numerical instability in time propagation of the density matrix of the active subsystem, and in the limit of the weak external field, the numerical results for low-lying transition energies are consistent with those obtained using the reference FDE calculations based on the linear-response TDDFT. The method is found to give stable numerical results also in the presence of a strong external field inducing nonlinear effects. Preliminary results are reported for high harmonic generation (HHG) of a water molecule embedded in a small water cluster. The effect of the embedding potential is evident in the HHG spectrum reducing the number of the well-resolved high harmonics at high energy with respect to the free water. This is consistent with a shift toward lower ionization energy passing from an isolated water molecule to a small water cluster. The computational burden for the propagation step increases approximately linearly with the size of the surrounding frozen environment. Furthermore, we have also shown that the updating frequency of the embedding potential may be significantly reduced, much less than one per time step, without jeopardizing the accuracy of the transition energies.

Understanding real-time time-dependent density-functional theory simulations of ultrafast laser-induced dynamics in organic molecules

Real-time time-dependent density functional theory, in conjunction with the Ehrenfest molecular dynamics scheme, is becoming a popular methodology to investigate ultrafast phenomena on the nanoscale. Thanks to recent developments, it is also possible to explicitly include in the simulations a time-dependent laser pulse, thereby accessing the transient excitation regime. However, the complexity entailed in these calculations calls for in-depth analysis of the accessible and yet approximate (either "dressed" or "bare") quantities in order to evaluate their ability to provide us with a realistic picture of the simulated processes. In this work, we analyze the ultrafast dynamics of three small molecules (ethylene, benzene, and thiophene) excited by a resonant laser pulse in the framework of the adiabatic local-density approximation. The electronic response to the laser perturbation in terms of induced dipole moment and excited-state population is compared to the results given by an exactly solvable two-level model. In this way, we can interpret the charge-carrier dynamics in terms of simple estimators, such as the number of excited electrons. From the computed transient absorption spectra, we unravel the appearance of nonlinear effects such as excited-state absorption and vibronic coupling. In this way, we observe that the laser excitation affects the vibrational spectrum by enhancing the anharmonicities therein, while the coherent vibrational motion contributes to stabilizing the electronic excitation already within a few tens of femtoseconds.

High Harmonic Generation in a Correlated Electron System

High harmonic generation in crystalline solids has been examined so far on the basis of one-body energy-band structures arising from electron itineracy in a periodic potential. Here, we show the emergence of high harmonic generation signals which are attributed to the dynamics of many-body states in a low-dimensional correlated electron system. An interacting fermion model and its effective pseudospin model on a one-dimensional dimer-type lattice are analyzed. Observed high harmonic generation signals in a spontaneously symmetry-broken state, where charge densities are polarized inside of dimer units, show threshold behavior with respect to light amplitude and are interpreted in terms of tunneling and recombination of kink-antikink excitations in an electric field.

Scientific instrument Femtosecond X-ray Experiments (FXE): instrumentation and baseline experimental capabilities

The European X-ray Free-Electron Laser (EuXFEL) delivers extremely intense (>10¹² photons pulse^-1 and up to 27000 pulses s^-1), ultrashort (<100 fs) and transversely coherent X-ray radiation, at a repetition rate of up to 4.5 MHz. Its unique X-ray beam parameters enable novel and groundbreaking experiments in ultrafast photochemistry and material sciences at the Femtosecond X-ray Experiments (FXE) scientific instrument. This paper provides an overview of the currently implemented experimental baseline instrumentation and its performance during the commissioning phase, and a preview of planned improvements. FXE's versatile instrumentation combines the simultaneous application of forward X-ray scattering and X-ray spectroscopy techniques with femtosecond time resolution. These methods will eventually permit exploitation of wide-angle X-ray scattering studies and X-ray emission spectroscopy, along with X-ray absorption spectroscopy, including resonant inelastic X-ray scattering and X-ray Raman scattering. A suite of ultrafast optical lasers throughout the UV-visible and near-IR ranges (extending up to mid-IR in the near future) with pulse length down to 15 fs, synchronized to the X-ray source, serve to initiate dynamic changes in the sample. Time-delayed hard X-ray pulses in the 5-20 keV range are used to probe the ensuing dynamic processes using the suite of X-ray probe tools. FXE is equipped with a primary monochromator, a primary and secondary single-shot spectrometer, and a timing tool to correct the residual timing jitter between laser and X-ray pulses.

Reduction of laser-intensity-correlated noise in high-harmonic generation

We present a scheme for correcting the spectral fluctuations of high-harmonic radiation. We show that the fluctuations of the extreme-ultraviolet (XUV) spectral power density can be predicted solely by monitoring the generating laser pulses; this method is in contrast with traditional balanced detection used in optical spectroscopy, where a replica of the signal is monitored. Such possibility emerges from a detailed investigation of high-harmonic generation (HHG) noise. We find that in a wide parameter range of the HHG process, the XUV fluctuations are dominated by a spectral blueshift, which is correlated to the near-infrared (NIR) driving laser intensity variation. Numerical simulations support our findings and suggest that non-adiabatic blueshift is the main source of XUV fluctuations. A straightforward post-processing of the XUV spectra allows for noise reduction and improved precision of attosecond transient absorption experiments. The technique is readily transferable to attosecond transient reflectivity and potentially to attosecond photoelectron spectroscopy.

Ab initio investigation of Br-3d core-excited states in HBr and HBr+ toward XUV probing of photochemical dynamics

Ultrafast X-ray/XUV transient absorption spectroscopy is a powerful tool for real-time probing of chemical dynamics. Interpretation of the transient absorption spectra requires knowledge of core-excited potentials, which necessitates assistance from high-level electronic-structure computations. In this study, we investigate Br-3d core-excited electronic structures of hydrogen bromide (HBr) using spin-orbit general multiconfigurational quasidegenerate perturbation theory (SO-GMC-QDPT). Potential energy curves and transition dipole moments are calculated from the Franck-Condon region to the asymptotic limit and used to construct core-to-valence absorption strengths for five electronic states of HBr (Σ 1 0 + ,   3 Π 1 ,   1 Π 1 ,   3 Π 0 + ,   3 Σ 1 ) and two electronic states of HBr+ (2Π3∕2, 2Σ1∕2). The results illustrate the capabilities of Br-3d edge probing to capture transitions of the electronic-state symmetry as well as nonadiabatic dissociation processes that evolve across avoided crossings. Furthermore, core-to-valence absorption spectra are simulated from the neutralΣ 1 0 + state and the ionicΠ 2 1 / 2 , 3 / 2 states by numerically solving the time-dependent Schrödinger equation and exhibit excellent agreement with the experimental spectrum. The comprehensive and quantitative picture of the core-excited states obtained in this work allows for transparent analysis of the core-to-valence absorption signals, filling gaps in the theoretical understanding of the Br-3d transient absorption spectra.

CHEERS: a tool for correlated hole-electron evolution from real-time simulations

We put forward a practical nonequilibrium Green's function (NEGF) scheme to perform real-time evolutions of many-body interacting systems driven out of equilibrium by external fields. CHEERS is a computational tool to solve the NEGF equation of motion in the so called generalized Kadanoff-Baym ansatz and it can be used for model systems as well as first-principles Hamiltonians. Dynamical correlation (or memory) effects are added to the Hartree-Fock dynamics through a many-body self-energy. Applications to time-dependent quantum transport, time-resolved photoabsorption and other ultrafast phenomena are discussed.

Universal route to optimal few- to single-cycle pulse generation in hollow-core fiber compressors

Gas-filled hollow-core fiber (HCF) pulse post-compressors generating few- to single-cycle pulses are a key enabling tool for attosecond science and ultrafast spectroscopy. Achieving optimum performance in this regime can be extremely challenging due to the ultra-broad bandwidth of the pulses and the need of an adequate temporal diagnostic. These difficulties have hindered the full exploitation of HCF post-compressors, namely the generation of stable and high-quality near-Fourier-transform-limited pulses. Here we show that, independently of conditions such as the type of gas or the laser system used, there is a universal route to obtain the shortest stable output pulse down to the single-cycle regime. Numerical simulations and experimental measurements performed with the dispersion-scan technique reveal that, in quite general conditions, post-compressed pulses exhibit a residual third-order dispersion intrinsic to optimum nonlinear propagation within the fiber, in agreement with measurements independently performed in several laboratories around the world. The understanding of this effect and its adequate correction, e.g. using simple transparent optical media, enables achieving high-quality post-compressed pulses with only minor changes in existing setups. These optimized sources have impact in many fields of science and technology and should enable new and exciting applications in the few- to single-cycle pulse regime.

Strong field transient manipulation of electronic states and bands

In the present review, laser fields are so strong that they become part of the electronic potential, and sometimes even dominate the Coulomb contribution. This manipulation of atomic potentials and of the associated states and bands finds fascinating applications in gases and solids, both in the bulk and at the surface. We present some recent spectacular examples obtained within the NCCR MUST in Switzerland.

Pure Even Harmonic Generation from Oriented CO in Linearly Polarized Laser Fields

The first high harmonic spectrum containing only the odd orders was observed in experiments 30 years ago. However, a spectrum containing pure even harmonics has never been observed. We investigate the generation of pure even harmonics from oriented CO molecules in linearly polarized laser fields employing the time-dependent density-functional theory. We find that the even harmonics, with no odd orders, are generated with the polarization perpendicular to the laser polarization when the molecular axis of CO is perpendicular to the laser polarization. The generation of pure even harmonics reveals a type of dipole acceleration originating from the permanent dipole moment. This phenomenon exists in all systems with permanent dipole moments, including bulk crystal and polyatomic molecules.

FRAME: femtosecond videography for atomic and molecular dynamics

Many important scientific questions in physics, chemistry and biology require effective methodologies to spectroscopically probe ultrafast intra- and inter-atomic/molecular dynamics. However, current methods that extend into the femtosecond regime are capable of only point measurements or single-snapshot visualizations and thus lack the capability to perform ultrafast spectroscopic videography of dynamic single events. Here we present a laser-probe-based method that enables two-dimensional videography at ultrafast timescales (femtosecond and shorter) of single, non-repetitive events. The method is based on superimposing a structural code onto the illumination to encrypt a single event, which is then deciphered in a post-processing step. This coding strategy enables laser probing with arbitrary wavelengths/bandwidths to collect signals with indiscriminate spectral information, thus allowing for ultrafast videography with full spectroscopic capability. To demonstrate the high temporal resolution of our method, we present videography of light propagation with record high 200 femtosecond temporal resolution. The method is widely applicable for studying a multitude of dynamical processes in physics, chemistry and biology over a wide range of time scales. Because the minimum frame separation (temporal resolution) is dictated by only the laser pulse duration, attosecond-laser technology may further increase video rates by several orders of magnitude.

Fourier transform spectral interferometry with non-phase stable setups by broadband single shot detection of fs and ps pulses

In this paper, we present a novel approach to Fourier transform spectral interferometry based on single-shot detection of broadband pulses. It allows heterodyne detection with non-phase-stabilised setups, which use ps- and fs-pulsed laser sources. This approach can tremendously simplify the implementation of complex techniques such as heterodyne Fourier transform four-wave mixing and pave the way to novel phase-sensitive diagnostics for lasers and optical setups.

From structure to structural dynamics: Ahmed Zewail's legacy

In this brief tribute to Ahmed Zewail, we highlight and place in the historical context, several of the major achievements that he and his colleagues have made in Femtochemistry (of which he was the principal instigator) and his introduction of ultrafast electron scattering, diffraction, microscopy and spectroscopy. By achieving a sub-picosecond temporal resolution, coupled with a picometer spatial resolution, he revolutionised our understanding of the corpus of chemical, physical, biological and materials science systems.

High-Harmonic Generation Enhanced by Dynamical Electron Correlation

We theoretically study multielectron effects in high-harmonic generation (HHG), using all-electron first-principles simulations for a one-dimensional model atom. In addition to the usual plateau and cutoff (from a cation in the present case, since the neutral is immediately ionized), we find a prominent resonance peak far above the plateau and a second plateau extended beyond the first cutoff. These features originate from the dication response enhanced by orders of magnitude due to the action of the Coulomb force from the rescattering electron, and, hence, are a clear manifestation of electron correlation. Although the present simulations are done in 1D, the physical mechanism underlying the dramatic enhancement is expected to hold also for three-dimensional real systems. This will provide new possibilities to explore dynamical electron correlation in intense laser fields using HHG, which is usually considered to be of single-electron nature in most cases.

Gouy phase shift for annular beam profiles in attosecond experiments

Attosecond pump-probe measurements are typically performed by combining attosecond pulses with more intense femtosecond, phase-locked infrared (IR) pulses because of the low average photon flux of attosecond light sources based on high-harmonic generation (HHG). Furthermore, the strong absorption of materials at the extreme ultraviolet (XUV) wavelengths of the attosecond pulses typically prevents the use of transmissive optics. As a result, pump and probe beams are typically recombined geometrically with a center-hole mirror that reflects the larger IR beam and transmits the smaller XUV, which leads to an annular beam profile of the IR. This modification of the IR beam can affect the pump-probe measurements because the propagation that follows the reflection on the center-hole mirror can strongly deviate from that of an ideal Gaussian beam. Here we present a detailed experimental study of the Gouy phase of an annular IR beam across the focus using a two-foci attosecond beamline and the RABBITT (reconstruction of attosecond beating by interference of two-photon transitions) technique. Our measurements show a Gouy phase shift of the truncated beam as large as 2π and a corresponding rate of 50 as/mm time delay change across the focus in a RABBITT measurement. These results are essential for attosecond pump-probe experiments that compare measurements of spatially separated targets.

A fully general time-dependent multiconfiguration self-consistent-field method for the electron–nuclear dynamics

A time-dependent multiconfiguration self-consistent-field method for a system consisting of arbitrarily different kinds and numbers of interacting fermions and bosons.