Spontaneous self-synchronization mechanism for attosecond pulses

Mcdonald, GS; Christian, JM

Abstract

Ultra-broadband multi-frequency Raman generation is a long-established technique for producing temporal bandwidths that can be of the order of the pump frequency. However, higher-than-optimal intensity beams reduce the bandwidth generated. Many works have considered different media and effects such as coherence preparation and decoration of sidebands with more lines, but the essential phenomenon and its characteristics have proved relatively invariant.

Here, we report the discovery of a profoundly new regime of multi- frequency Raman generation. The simple inclusion of strong cavity feedback has uncovered a fundamental modification to the process and its overall characteristics.

Firstly, we find that the magnitude of bandwidth generated may be enhanced by up to 100% in comparison with the equivalent cavity-less context. Secondly, this novel feature is accompanied by a self-synchronization of the generated spectrum towards a global fixed- point. This self-organisation of frequency lines can be consistent with formation of pulse- trains with individual pulsewidths less than 300 attoseconds. Importantly, self- synchronization is not only stable against reduction in mirror bandwidth but it has also been identified as an intrinsic effect that is independent of cavity mistuning in strong-cavity regimes.

Our investigations show that self-synchronization is indeed most stable in regimes where generated pulsewidths are shortest.

Citation

Mcdonald, G., & Christian, J. (2008, August). Spontaneous self-synchronization mechanism for attosecond pulses. Poster presented at National Photonics Conference, Photon 08, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, UK

• Presentation Conference Type: Poster
• Conference Name: National Photonics Conference, Photon 08
• Conference Location: Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, UK
• Start Date: Aug 26, 2008
• End Date: Aug 29, 2008
• Publication Date: Aug 26, 2008
• Deposit Date: Oct 14, 2011
• Publicly Available Date: Apr 5, 2016
• Publisher URL: http://photon08.iopconfs.org/
• Additional Information: Event Type : Conference