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Garratt D, Matthews M, Marangos J. Toward ultrafast soft x-ray spectroscopy of organic photovoltaic devices. STRUCTURAL DYNAMICS (MELVILLE, N.Y.) 2024; 11:010901. [PMID: 38250136 PMCID: PMC10799687 DOI: 10.1063/4.0000214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2023] [Accepted: 12/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
Novel ultrafast x-ray sources based on high harmonic generation and at x-ray free electron lasers are opening up new opportunities to resolve complex ultrafast processes in condensed phase systems with exceptional temporal resolution and atomic site specificity. In this perspective, we present techniques for resolving charge localization, transfer, and separation processes in organic semiconductors and organic photovoltaic devices with time-resolved soft x-ray spectroscopy. We review recent results in ultrafast soft x-ray spectroscopy of these systems and discuss routes to overcome the technical challenges in performing time-resolved x-ray experiments on photosensitive materials with poor thermal conductivity and low pump intensity thresholds for nonlinear effects.
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2
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Mondal A, Waser B, Balciunas T, Neufeld O, Yin Z, Tancogne-Dejean N, Rubio A, Wörner HJ. High-harmonic generation in liquids with few-cycle pulses: effect of laser-pulse duration on the cut-off energy. OPTICS EXPRESS 2023; 31:34348-34361. [PMID: 37859193 DOI: 10.1364/oe.496686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023]
Abstract
High-harmonic generation (HHG) in liquids is opening new opportunities for attosecond light sources and attosecond time-resolved studies of dynamics in the liquid phase. In gas-phase HHG, few-cycle pulses are routinely used to create isolated attosecond pulses and to extend the cut-off energy. Here, we study the properties of HHG in liquids, including heavy water, ethanol and isopropanol, by continuously tuning the pulse duration of a mid-infrared driver from the multi- to the two-cycle regime. Similar to the gas phase, we observe the transition from discrete odd-order harmonics to continuous extreme-ultraviolet emission. However, the cut-off energy is shown to be entirely independent of the pulse duration. These observations are confirmed by ab-initio simulations of HHG in large liquid clusters. Our results support the notion that the cut-off energy is a fundamental property of the liquid, independent of the driving-pulse properties. Our work implies that few-cycle mid-infrared laser pulses are suitable drivers for generating isolated attosecond pulses from liquids and confirm the capability of high-harmonic spectroscopy to determine the mean-free paths of slow electrons in liquids.
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3
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Yin Z, Chang YP, Balčiūnas T, Shakya Y, Djorović A, Gaulier G, Fazio G, Santra R, Inhester L, Wolf JP, Wörner HJ. Femtosecond proton transfer in urea solutions probed by X-ray spectroscopy. Nature 2023; 619:749-754. [PMID: 37380782 PMCID: PMC10371863 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06182-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/30/2023]
Abstract
Proton transfer is one of the most fundamental events in aqueous-phase chemistry and an emblematic case of coupled ultrafast electronic and structural dynamics1,2. Disentangling electronic and nuclear dynamics on the femtosecond timescales remains a formidable challenge, especially in the liquid phase, the natural environment of biochemical processes. Here we exploit the unique features of table-top water-window X-ray absorption spectroscopy3-6 to reveal femtosecond proton-transfer dynamics in ionized urea dimers in aqueous solution. Harnessing the element specificity and the site selectivity of X-ray absorption spectroscopy with the aid of ab initio quantum-mechanical and molecular-mechanics calculations, we show how, in addition to the proton transfer, the subsequent rearrangement of the urea dimer and the associated change of the electronic structure can be identified with site selectivity. These results establish the considerable potential of flat-jet, table-top X-ray absorption spectroscopy7,8 in elucidating solution-phase ultrafast dynamics in biomolecular systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhong Yin
- Laboratory of Physical Chemistry, ETH Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland.
- International Center for Synchrotron Radiation Innovation Smart, Tohoku University, Miyagi, Sendai, Japan.
| | - Yi-Ping Chang
- GAP-Biophotonics, Université de Genève, Geneva, Switzerland
- European XFEL, Schenefeld, Germany
| | - Tadas Balčiūnas
- Laboratory of Physical Chemistry, ETH Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland
- GAP-Biophotonics, Université de Genève, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Yashoj Shakya
- Center for Free-Electron Laser Science CFEL, Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, Hamburg, Germany
- Department of Physics, Universität Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | | | | | - Giuseppe Fazio
- Laboratory of Physical Chemistry, ETH Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Robin Santra
- Center for Free-Electron Laser Science CFEL, Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, Hamburg, Germany
- Department of Physics, Universität Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
- Hamburg Centre for Ultrafast Imaging, Universität Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Ludger Inhester
- Center for Free-Electron Laser Science CFEL, Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, Hamburg, Germany.
- Hamburg Centre for Ultrafast Imaging, Universität Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany.
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4
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Petrulenas A, Mackonis P, Rodin AM. Signal-to-idler energy conversion from 1.9 to 2.3 µm by transient stimulated Raman chirped-pulse amplification. OPTICS LETTERS 2023; 48:1598-1601. [PMID: 37221719 DOI: 10.1364/ol.481811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 03/08/2023] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
The combination of optical parametric and transient stimulated Raman amplification of chirped pulses demonstrates a new approach for idler energy buildup in the short-wave (SW)IR range. Optical parametric chirped-pulse amplification (OPCPA) output pulses in the wavelength range from ∼1800 nm to ∼2000 nm for the signal and from ∼2100 nm to ∼2400 nm for the idler were used as pump and Stokes seed, respectively, in a stimulated Raman amplifier based on a KGd(WO4)2 crystal. Both OPCPA and its supercontinuum seed were pumped with ∼1.2-ps transform-limited pulses from a Yb:YAG chirped-pulse amplifier. The transient stimulated Raman chirped-pulse amplifier provides a 33% increase in idler energy with nearly transform-limited ∼53-fs pulses after compression.
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5
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Zinchenko KS, Ardana-Lamas F, Lanfaloni VU, Luu TT, Pertot Y, Huppert M, Wörner HJ. Apparatus for attosecond transient-absorption spectroscopy in the water-window soft-X-ray region. Sci Rep 2023; 13:3059. [PMID: 36810355 PMCID: PMC9944907 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-29089-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2022] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2023] Open
Abstract
We present an apparatus for attosecond transient-absorption spectroscopy (ATAS) featuring soft-X-ray (SXR) supercontinua that extend beyond 450 eV. This instrument combines an attosecond table-top high-harmonic light source with mid-infrared (mid-IR) pulses, both driven by 1.7-1.9 mJ, sub-11 fs pulses centered at 1.76 [Formula: see text]m. A remarkably low timing jitter of [Formula: see text] 20 as is achieved through active stabilization of the pump and probe arms of the instrument. A temporal resolution of better than 400 as is demonstrated through ATAS measurements at the argon L[Formula: see text]-edges. A spectral resolving power of 1490 is demonstrated through simultaneous absorption measurements at the sulfur L[Formula: see text]- and carbon K-edges of OCS. Coupled with its high SXR photon flux, this instrument paves the way to attosecond time-resolved spectroscopy of organic molecules in the gas phase or in aqueous solutions, as well as thin films of advanced materials. Such measurements will advance the studies of complex systems to the electronic time scale.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Fernando Ardana-Lamas
- Laboratory of Physical Chemistry, ETH Zürich, 8093, Zurich, Switzerland.
- European XFEL GmbH, 22869, Schenefeld, Germany.
| | | | - Tran Trung Luu
- Laboratory of Physical Chemistry, ETH Zürich, 8093, Zurich, Switzerland
- Department of Physics, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, SAR Hong Kong, People's Republic of China
| | - Yoann Pertot
- Laboratory of Physical Chemistry, ETH Zürich, 8093, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Martin Huppert
- Laboratory of Physical Chemistry, ETH Zürich, 8093, Zurich, Switzerland
- Paul Scherrer Institut, PSI, 5232, Villigen, Switzerland
| | - Hans Jakob Wörner
- Laboratory of Physical Chemistry, ETH Zürich, 8093, Zurich, Switzerland
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6
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Fu Z, Chen Y, Peng S, Zhu B, Li B, Martín-Hernández R, Fan G, Wang Y, Hernández-García C, Jin C, Murnane M, Kapteyn H, Tao Z. Extension of the bright high-harmonic photon energy range via nonadiabatic critical phase matching. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eadd7482. [PMID: 36563146 PMCID: PMC9788764 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.add7482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The concept of critical ionization fraction has been essential for high-harmonic generation, because it dictates the maximum driving laser intensity while preserving the phase matching of harmonics. In this work, we reveal a second, nonadiabatic critical ionization fraction, which substantially extends the phase-matched harmonic energy, arising because of the strong reshaping of the intense laser field in a gas plasma. We validate this understanding through a systematic comparison between experiment and theory for a wide range of laser conditions. In particular, the properties of the high-harmonic spectrum versus the laser intensity undergoes three distinctive scenarios: (i) coincidence with the single-atom cutoff, (ii) strong spectral extension, and (iii) spectral energy saturation. We present an analytical model that predicts the spectral extension and reveals the increasing importance of the nonadiabatic effects for mid-infrared lasers. These findings are important for the development of high-brightness soft x-ray sources for applications in spectroscopy and imaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zongyuan Fu
- State Key Laboratory of Surface Physics, Key Laboratory of Micro and Nano Photonic Structures (MOE), and Department of Physics, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Yudong Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Surface Physics, Key Laboratory of Micro and Nano Photonic Structures (MOE), and Department of Physics, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Sainan Peng
- State Key Laboratory of Surface Physics, Key Laboratory of Micro and Nano Photonic Structures (MOE), and Department of Physics, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Bingbing Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Surface Physics, Key Laboratory of Micro and Nano Photonic Structures (MOE), and Department of Physics, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Baochang Li
- Department of Applied Physics, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210094, China
| | - Rodrigo Martín-Hernández
- Grupo de Investigación en Aplicaciones del Láser y Fotónica, Departamento de Física Aplicada, Universidad de Salamanca, E- 37008 Salamanca, Spain
| | - Guangyu Fan
- Shanghai Key Lab of Modern Optical System, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai 200093, China
- The Hamburg Centre for Ultrafast Imaging CUI, Universität Hamburg, 149 Luruper Chaussee, 22761 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Yihua Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Surface Physics, Key Laboratory of Micro and Nano Photonic Structures (MOE), and Department of Physics, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
- Shanghai Research Center for Quantum Sciences, Shanghai 201315, China
| | - Carlos Hernández-García
- Grupo de Investigación en Aplicaciones del Láser y Fotónica, Departamento de Física Aplicada, Universidad de Salamanca, E- 37008 Salamanca, Spain
| | - Cheng Jin
- Department of Applied Physics, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210094, China
- MIIT Key Laboratory of Semiconductor Microstructure and Quantum Sensing, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210094, China
| | - Margaret Murnane
- Department of Physics and JILA, University of Colorado and NIST, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
| | - Henry Kapteyn
- Department of Physics and JILA, University of Colorado and NIST, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
| | - Zhensheng Tao
- State Key Laboratory of Surface Physics, Key Laboratory of Micro and Nano Photonic Structures (MOE), and Department of Physics, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
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7
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Abstract
Major advances in X-ray sources including the development of circularly polarized and orbital angular momentum pulses make it possible to probe matter chirality at unprecedented energy regimes and with Ångström and femtosecond spatiotemporal resolutions. We survey the theory of stationary and time-resolved nonlinear chiral measurements that can be carried out in the X-ray regime using tabletop X-ray sources or large scale (XFEL, synchrotron) facilities. A variety of possible signals and their information content are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jérémy R Rouxel
- Université de Lyon, UJM-Saint-Etienne, CNRS, IOGS, Laboratoire Hubert Curien UMR 5516, Saint-Etienne F-42023, France
| | - Shaul Mukamel
- Department of Chemistry and Physics & Astronomy, University of California, Irvine, California 92697-2025, United States
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8
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Xu L, Xue B, Ishii N, Itatani J, Midorikawa K, Takahashi EJ. 100-mJ class, sub-two-cycle, carrier-envelope phase-stable dual-chirped optical parametric amplification. OPTICS LETTERS 2022; 47:3371-3374. [PMID: 35776627 DOI: 10.1364/ol.455811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2022] [Accepted: 05/31/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Based on dual-chirped optical parametric amplification (DC-OPA) and type-I BiB3O6 (BiBO) crystals, the generation of >100 mJ, 10.4 fs, 10 Hz, carrier-envelope phase (CEP)-stable laser pulses, which are centered at 1.7 µm, was demonstrated producing a peak power of 10 TW. CEP-dependent high harmonic generation (HHG) was implemented to confirm the sub-two-cycle pulse duration and CEP stabilization of infrared (IR) laser pulses. As far as we know, the obtained pulse energy and peak power represented the highest values for sub-two-cycle CEP-stable IR optical parametric amplification. Additionally, the prospects of achieving high-energy water window isolated attosecond pulses (IAPs) via our developed laser source were discussed.
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9
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Zinchenko KS, Ardana-Lamas F, Utrio Lanfaloni V, Pertot Y, Luu TT, Wörner HJ. Energy scaling of carrier-envelope-phase-stable sub-two-cycle pulses at 1.76 µm from hollow-core-fiber compression to 1.9 mJ. OPTICS EXPRESS 2022; 30:22376-22387. [PMID: 36224936 DOI: 10.1364/oe.457477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2022] [Accepted: 04/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
We present the energy scaling of a sub-two-cycle (10.4 fs) carrier-envelope-phase-stable light source centered at 1.76 µm to 1.9 mJ pulse energy. The light source is based on an optimized spectral-broadening scheme in a hollow-core fiber and a consecutive pulse compression with bulk material. This is, to our knowledge, the highest pulse energy reported to date from this type of sources. We demonstrate the application of this improved source to the generation of bright water-window soft-X-ray high harmonics. Combined with the short pulse duration, this source paves the way to the attosecond time-resolved water-window spectroscopy of complex molecules in aqueous solutions.
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10
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Direct observation of ultrafast exciton localization in an organic semiconductor with soft X-ray transient absorption spectroscopy. Nat Commun 2022; 13:3414. [PMID: 35701418 PMCID: PMC9198071 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-31008-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2021] [Accepted: 05/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
The localization dynamics of excitons in organic semiconductors influence the efficiency of charge transfer and separation in these materials. Here we apply time-resolved X-ray absorption spectroscopy to track photoinduced dynamics of a paradigmatic crystalline conjugated polymer: poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) commonly used in solar cell devices. The π→π* transition, the first step of solar energy conversion, is pumped with a 15 fs optical pulse and the dynamics are probed by an attosecond soft X-ray pulse at the carbon K-edge. We observe X-ray spectroscopic signatures of the initially hot excitonic state, indicating that it is delocalized over multiple polymer chains. This undergoes a rapid evolution on a sub 50 fs timescale which can be directly associated with cooling and localization to form either a localized exciton or polaron pair. A detailed understanding of ultrafast exciton dynamics is crucial for improving the efficiency of organic light-harvesting-devices. Here, the authors track exciton localization on a sub-50 fs timescale in an organic semiconductor using time resolved soft x-ray absorption spectroscopy.
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11
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Witzorky C, Paramonov G, Bouakline F, Jaquet R, Saalfrank P, Klamroth T. Gaussian-Type Orbital Calculations for High Harmonic Generation in Vibrating Molecules: Benchmarks for H 2. J Chem Theory Comput 2021; 17:7353-7365. [PMID: 34747605 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jctc.1c00837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The response of the hydrogen molecular ion, H2+, to few-cycle laser pulses of different intensities is simulated. To treat the coupled electron-nuclear motion, we use adiabatic potentials computed with Gaussian-type basis sets together with a heuristic ionization model for the electron and a grid representation for the nuclei. Using this mixed-basis approach, the time-dependent Schrödinger equation is solved, either within the Born-Oppenheimer approximation or with nonadiabatic couplings included. The dipole response spectra are compared to all-grid-based solutions for the three-body problem, which we take as a reference to benchmark the Gaussian-type basis set approaches. Also, calculations employing the fixed-nuclei approximation are performed, to quantify effects due to nuclear motion. For low intensities and small ionization probabilities, we get excellent agreement of the dynamics using Gaussian-type basis sets with the all-grid solutions. Our investigations suggest that high harmonic generation (HHG) and high-frequency response, in general, can be reliably modeled using Gaussian-type basis sets for the electrons for not too high harmonics. Further, nuclear motion destroys electronic coherences in the response spectra even on the time scale of about 30 fs and affects HHG intensities, which reflect the electron dynamics occurring on the attosecond time scale. For the present system, non-Born-Oppenheimer effects are small. The Gaussian-based, nonadiabatically coupled, time-dependent multisurface approach to treat quantum electron-nuclear motion beyond the non-Born-Oppenheimer approximation can be easily extended to approximate wavefunction methods, such as time-dependent configuration interaction singles (TD-CIS), for systems where no benchmarks are available.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christoph Witzorky
- Institut für Chemie, Universität Potsdam, Karl-Liebknecht-Str. 24-25, D-14476 Potsdam-Golm, Germany
| | - Guennaddi Paramonov
- Institut für Chemie, Universität Potsdam, Karl-Liebknecht-Str. 24-25, D-14476 Potsdam-Golm, Germany
| | - Foudhil Bouakline
- Institut für Chemie, Universität Potsdam, Karl-Liebknecht-Str. 24-25, D-14476 Potsdam-Golm, Germany
| | - Ralph Jaquet
- Theoretische Chemie, Universität Siegen, D-57068 Siegen, Germany
| | - Peter Saalfrank
- Institut für Chemie, Universität Potsdam, Karl-Liebknecht-Str. 24-25, D-14476 Potsdam-Golm, Germany
| | - Tillmann Klamroth
- Institut für Chemie, Universität Potsdam, Karl-Liebknecht-Str. 24-25, D-14476 Potsdam-Golm, Germany
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12
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Abstract
In the past decade, mid-infrared (MIR) few-cycle lasers have attracted remarkable research efforts for their applications in strong-field physics, MIR spectroscopy, and bio-medical research. Here we present a review of MIR few-cycle pulse generation and amplification in the wavelength range spanning from 2 to ~20 μm. In the first section, a brief introduction on the importance of MIR ultrafast lasers and the corresponding methods of MIR few-cycle pulse generation is provided. In the second section, different nonlinear crystals including emerging non-oxide crystals, such as CdSiP2, ZnGeP2, GaSe, LiGaS2, and BaGa4Se7, as well as new periodically poled crystals such as OP-GaAs and OP-GaP are reviewed. Subsequently, in the third section, the various techniques for MIR few-cycle pulse generation and amplification including optical parametric amplification, optical parametric chirped-pulse amplification, and intra-pulse difference-frequency generation with all sorts of designs, pumped by miscellaneous lasers, and with various MIR output specifications in terms of pulse energy, average power, and pulse width are reviewed. In addition, high-energy MIR single-cycle pulses are ideal tools for isolated attosecond pulse generation, electron dynamic investigation, and tunneling ionization harness. Thus, in the fourth section, examples of state-of-the-art work in the field of MIR single-cycle pulse generation are reviewed and discussed. In the last section, prospects for MIR few-cycle lasers in strong-field physics, high-fidelity molecule detection, and cold tissue ablation applications are provided.
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13
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Nishimura K, Fu Y, Suda A, Midorikawa K, Takahashi EJ. Apparatus for generation of nanojoule-class water-window high-order harmonics. THE REVIEW OF SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS 2021; 92:063001. [PMID: 34243496 DOI: 10.1063/5.0045342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2021] [Accepted: 05/17/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
In our recent study [Fu et al., Commun. Phys. 3(1), 92 (2020)], we have developed an approach for energy-scaling of high-order harmonic generation in the water-window region under a neutral-medium condition. More specifically, we obtained a nanojoule-class water-window soft x-ray harmonic beam under a phase-matching condition. It has been achieved by combining a newly developed terawatt-class mid-infrared femtosecond laser and a loose-focusing geometry for high-order harmonic generation. The generated beam is more than 100 times intense compared to previously reported results. The experimental setup included two key parts: a terawatt mid-infrared femtosecond driving laser [Fu et al., Sci. Rep. 8(1), 7692 (2018)] and a specially designed gas cell. Despite the dramatic drop in the optimal gas pressure for phase-matching due to loose-focusing geometry, it still reached the 1 bar level for helium. Thus, we have designed a double-structured pulsed-gas cell with a differential pumping system, which enabled providing sufficiently high gas pressure. Moreover, it allowed reducing gas consumption significantly. A robust energy-scalable apparatus for high-order harmonic generation developed in this study will enable the generation of over ten-nanojoule water-window attosecond pulses in the near future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kotaro Nishimura
- Extreme Photonics Research Group, RIKEN Center for Advanced Photonics, RIKEN, 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
| | - Yuxi Fu
- Extreme Photonics Research Group, RIKEN Center for Advanced Photonics, RIKEN, 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
| | - Akira Suda
- Department of Physics, Tokyo University of Science, 2641 Yamazaki, Noda, Chiba 278-8510, Japan
| | - Katsumi Midorikawa
- Extreme Photonics Research Group, RIKEN Center for Advanced Photonics, RIKEN, 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
| | - Eiji J Takahashi
- Extreme Photonics Research Group, RIKEN Center for Advanced Photonics, RIKEN, 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
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14
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Abstract
We review oxygen K-edge X-ray absorption spectra of both molecules and solids. We start with an overview of the main experimental aspects of oxygen K-edge X-ray absorption measurements including X-ray sources, monochromators, and detection schemes. Many recent oxygen K-edge studies combine X-ray absorption with time and spatially resolved measurements and/or operando conditions. The main theoretical and conceptual approximations for the simulation of oxygen K-edges are discussed in the Theory section. We subsequently discuss oxygen atoms and ions, binary molecules, water, and larger molecules containing oxygen, including biomolecular systems. The largest part of the review deals with the experimental results for solid oxides, starting from s- and p-electron oxides. Examples of theoretical simulations for these oxides are introduced in order to show how accurate a DFT description can be in the case of s and p electron overlap. We discuss the general analysis of the 3d transition metal oxides including discussions of the crystal field effect and the effects and trends in oxidation state and covalency. In addition to the general concepts, we give a systematic overview of the oxygen K-edges element by element, for the s-, p-, d-, and f-electron systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federica Frati
- Inorganic
chemistry and catalysis, Debye Institute for Nanomaterials Science, Utrecht University, 3584CG Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | | | - Frank M. F. de Groot
- Inorganic
chemistry and catalysis, Debye Institute for Nanomaterials Science, Utrecht University, 3584CG Utrecht, The Netherlands
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15
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Smith AD, Balčiu̅nas T, Chang YP, Schmidt C, Zinchenko K, Nunes FB, Rossi E, Svoboda V, Yin Z, Wolf JP, Wörner HJ. Femtosecond Soft-X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy of Liquids with a Water-Window High-Harmonic Source. J Phys Chem Lett 2020; 11:1981-1988. [PMID: 32073862 PMCID: PMC7086398 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.9b03559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Femtosecond X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) is a powerful method to investigate the dynamical behavior of a system after photoabsorption in real time. So far, the application of this technique has remained limited to large-scale facilities, such as femtosliced synchrotrons and free-electron lasers (FEL). In this work, we demonstrate femtosecond time-resolved soft-X-ray absorption spectroscopy of liquid samples by combining a sub-micrometer-thin flat liquid jet with a high-harmonic tabletop source covering the entire water-window range (284-538 eV). Our work represents the first extension of tabletop XAS to the oxygen edge of a chemical sample in the liquid phase. In the time domain, our measurements resolve the gradual appearance of absorption features below the carbon K-edge of ethanol and methanol during strong-field ionization and trace the valence-shell ionization dynamics of the liquid alcohols with a temporal resolution of ∼30 fs. This technique opens unique opportunities to study molecular dynamics of chemical systems in the liquid phase with elemental, orbital, and site sensitivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam D. Smith
- Laboratory
of Physical Chemistry, ETH Zürich, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Tadas Balčiu̅nas
- GAP-Biophotonics, Université de Genéve, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Yi-Ping Chang
- GAP-Biophotonics, Université de Genéve, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Cédric Schmidt
- GAP-Biophotonics, Université de Genéve, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland
| | | | - Fernanda B. Nunes
- Laboratory
of Physical Chemistry, ETH Zürich, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Emanuele Rossi
- Laboratory
of Physical Chemistry, ETH Zürich, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Vít Svoboda
- Laboratory
of Physical Chemistry, ETH Zürich, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Zhong Yin
- Laboratory
of Physical Chemistry, ETH Zürich, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland
- E-mail:
| | - Jean-Pierre Wolf
- GAP-Biophotonics, Université de Genéve, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Hans Jakob Wörner
- Laboratory
of Physical Chemistry, ETH Zürich, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland
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Yeo J, Li H. Gaussian beam solutions in a longitudinally varying medium with a transverse quadratic-index profile. JOURNAL OF THE OPTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA. A, OPTICS, IMAGE SCIENCE, AND VISION 2020; 37:368-373. [PMID: 32118919 DOI: 10.1364/josaa.382205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2019] [Accepted: 12/26/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Research in laser-plasma interaction, high harmonic generation, and filamentation involves Gaussian beams propagating through inhomogeneous media, where the refractive index varies spatially in both the transverse and longitudinal directions. However, most analytical Gaussian beam solutions to the paraxial wave equation for inhomogeneous media are limited to media with the refractive index only varying quadratically in the transverse direction. In this paper, we present a new class of Gaussian beam solutions for a longitudinally varying medium with a transverse quadratic-index profile. We also highlight a few examples from this class of solutions, which include features such as a one-parameter generalization of the free-space Gaussian beam, beam "collimation," beam self-focusing, and the existence of multiple beam waists.
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Cirmi G, Çankaya H, Krogen P, Calendron AL, Hua Y, Debord B, Gérôme F, Benabid F, Kärtner FX. Novel method for the angular chirp compensation of passively CEP-stable few-cycle pulses. OPTICS EXPRESS 2020; 28:3171-3178. [PMID: 32121990 DOI: 10.1364/oe.384290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2019] [Accepted: 01/11/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
We demonstrate a novel, energy-efficient, cost-effective simple method for seeding CEP-stable OPCPAs. We couple the CEP-stable idler of a broadband OPCPA into a hollow core Kagome fiber thus compensating for the angular chirp. We obtain either relatively narrow bandwidths with ∼36% coupling efficiency or quarter-octave spanning bandwidths with ∼2.2% coupling efficiency. We demonstrate spectral compressibility, good beam quality and CEP stability. Our source is an ideal seed for high-energy, high-average power, CEP-stable few-cycle OPCPA pulses around 2 µm, which can drive the generation of coherent soft X-ray radiation in the water window spectral region via HHG.
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Saalfrank P, Bedurke F, Heide C, Klamroth T, Klinkusch S, Krause P, Nest M, Tremblay JC. Molecular attochemistry: Correlated electron dynamics driven by light. ADVANCES IN QUANTUM CHEMISTRY 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/bs.aiq.2020.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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Bedurke F, Klamroth T, Krause P, Saalfrank P. Discriminating organic isomers by high harmonic generation: A time-dependent configuration interaction singles study. J Chem Phys 2019; 150:234114. [DOI: 10.1063/1.5096473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Florian Bedurke
- Universität Potsdam, Institut für Chemie, Karl-Liebknecht-Str. 24-25, D-14476 Potsdam-Golm, Germany
| | - Tillmann Klamroth
- Universität Potsdam, Institut für Chemie, Karl-Liebknecht-Str. 24-25, D-14476 Potsdam-Golm, Germany
| | - Pascal Krause
- Universität Potsdam, Institut für Chemie, Karl-Liebknecht-Str. 24-25, D-14476 Potsdam-Golm, Germany
| | - Peter Saalfrank
- Universität Potsdam, Institut für Chemie, Karl-Liebknecht-Str. 24-25, D-14476 Potsdam-Golm, Germany
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Affiliation(s)
- Majed Chergui
- Laboratoire de Spectroscopie Ultrarapide (LSU) and Lausanne Centre for Ultrafast Science (LACUS), Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, ISIC, FSB, Station 6, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
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Johnson AS, Wood D, Austin DR, Brahms C, Gregory A, Holzner KB, Jarosch S, Larsen EW, Parker S, Strüber C, Ye P, Tisch JWG, Marangos JP. Apparatus for soft x-ray table-top high harmonic generation. THE REVIEW OF SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS 2018; 89:083110. [PMID: 30184663 DOI: 10.1063/1.5041498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2018] [Accepted: 07/29/2018] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
There has been considerable recent interest in tabletop soft X-ray attosecond sources enabled by the new generation of intense, few-cycle laser sources at operating wavelengths longer than 800 nm. In our recent work [Johnson et al., Sci. Adv. 4(5), eaar3761 (2018)], we have demonstrated a new regime for the generation of X-ray attosecond pulses in the water window (284-540 eV) by high-harmonic generation, which resulted in soft X-ray fluxes of ≈109 photons/s and a maximum photon energy of 600 eV, an order of magnitude and 50 eV higher, respectively, than previously attained with few-cycle drivers. Here we present the key elements of our apparatus for the generation and detection of soft X-ray high harmonic radiation in the water window. Of critical importance is a differentially pumped gas target capable of supporting the multi-atmospheric pressures required to phase-match the high energy emission while strongly constraining the gas density, suppressing the effects of ionization and absorption outside the interaction region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allan S Johnson
- Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College London, Prince Consort Road, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - David Wood
- Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College London, Prince Consort Road, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - Dane R Austin
- Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College London, Prince Consort Road, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - Christian Brahms
- Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College London, Prince Consort Road, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew Gregory
- Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College London, Prince Consort Road, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - Konstantin B Holzner
- Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College London, Prince Consort Road, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - Sebastian Jarosch
- Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College London, Prince Consort Road, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - Esben W Larsen
- Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College London, Prince Consort Road, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - Susan Parker
- Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College London, Prince Consort Road, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - Christian Strüber
- Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College London, Prince Consort Road, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - Peng Ye
- Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College London, Prince Consort Road, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - John W G Tisch
- Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College London, Prince Consort Road, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - Jon P Marangos
- Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College London, Prince Consort Road, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
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