Intense high harmonic vector beams from relativistic plasma mirrors

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates the generation of intense, coherent high harmonic vector beams in the extreme-ultraviolet to x-ray range using relativistic plasma mirrors, enabling new ultrafast and high-resolution applications.

Contribution

It introduces a method to produce intense vector harmonic beams with complex polarization and orbital angular momentum via relativistic high harmonic generation from plasma mirrors.

Findings

Generation of coherent high harmonic vector beams in EUV to x-ray range.

Transfer of fundamental laser beam's vector features to high harmonics.

Potential for creating attosecond vector beams with orbital angular momentum.

Abstract

Vector beam, with a spatial nonuniform polarization distribution, is important for many applications due to its unique field characteristics and novel effects when interacting with matter. Here through three-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations, we demonstrate that intense vector beams in the extreme-ultraviolet to x-ray spectral region can be generated by means of high harmonic generation (HHG) in the relativistic regime. The vector features of the fundamental laser beam can be transferred to the higher frequency emission coherently during the extreme nonlinear HHG dynamics from relativistic plasma mirrors. The vector harmonic beams can be synthesized into attosecond vector beams. It is also possible to generate vector harmonic beam carrying orbital angular momentum. Such bright vortices and vector light sources present new opportunities in various applications such as imaging with high spatial and temporal resolution, ultrafast magnetic spectroscopy, and particle manipulation.