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Quantum Electronics and Laser Science Conference

EM-bubble generation by half-cycle pulses: multi-bubbles and shock waves

Steffen Straub, A. E. Kaplan, P. L. Shkolnikov

Published Jan 1, 1997• 0 citations
OpenAlex

Abstract

It has recently been proposed by us to attain very powerful, sub-cycle, near- and sub-femtosecond pulses by using two new principles, one of them based on the generation of powerful EM-bubbles (EMBs),1-2 unipolar solitons propagating in a gas of two-level or classically nonlinear atoms. One of the major avenues of EMB-generation is the use of existing HCPs to launch EMBs much shorter than originating HCPs.

Related papers

Sub-Cycle Pulses and Field Solitons: Near- and Sub-Femtosecond Em-Bubbles

A. E. Kaplan, S. F. Straub, P. L. Shkolnikov

We demonstrate the feasibility of strong (up to atomic fields) and super-short (few- or even sub-femtosecond) sub-cycle (non-oscillating) electromagnetic solitons — EM bubbles (EMBs) in a gas of two-level atoms, as well as EMBs and pre-ionization shock waves in classically nonlinear atoms. We show that EMBs can be generated by existing sources of radiation, including sub-picosecond half-cycle pulses and very short laser pulses. We investigate how EMB characteristics are controlled by those of originating pulses. Our most recent results are focused on the related transient phenomena, including EMB formation length, multi-bubble generation and shock-like waves. We also develop the theory of the diffraction-induced transformation of sub-cycle pulses in linear media. These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.

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Electromagnetic (EM) bubbles (EMB's), unipolar, super-short, and intense nonoscillating solitary pulses of EM radiation, can be generated in a gas of nonlinear atoms by available half-cycle pulses (HCP's). We investigate how EMB's characteristics (amplitude, length, formation distance, and total number) are controlled by the amplitude and length of originating HCP's. We also predict shocklike wave fronts in the multibubble regime.

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P. L. Shkolnikov, A. E. Kaplan

Recently, we have proposed two avenues to generating ultrashort (potentially, subfemtosecond) and intense (up to atomic fields) nonoscillating pulses: a high-repetition train of such pulses can be produced in multicomponent stimulated Raman scattering [1], and a single pulse ("electromagnetic bubble" -- EMB) or several of them can result [2,3] from the propagation of an initially broad unipolar pulse (half-cycle pulse -- HCP [4]) in an appropriate nonlinear medium. Such pulses could cause a substantial "shake-up" excitation or ionization of an atomic system within the time much smaller than any characteristic time of the system. These "superpulses" would open a new chapter in nonlinear optics and atomic and molecular physics, both as a new probing tool and a source of new effects. In the present paper, we consider one of them: backward and multi-echo field ionization [5].

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SUBFEMTOSECOND HIGH-INTENSITY UNIPOLAR ELECTROMAGNETIC SOLITONS AND SHOCK WAVES

A. E. Kaplan, P. L. Shkolnikov

We show that atomic gasses can support solitary pulses of unipolar, non-oscillating EM-field ("EM-bubbles") of up to the atomic amplitude, with their length ranging from ~10−9 s to ~10−16 s , which propagate without dispersion and are stable and insensitive to the change of gas density. We found the condition on the atomic potential necessary for formation of EM-bubble. Atomic gasses can also support an EM shock which is a precursor of a cw ionizing field.

Journal of Nonlinear Optical Physics & Materials•Oct 1, 1995•5 citations

Building electronic wave packets from scratch

R. R. Jones

Summary form only given. Unipolar half-cycle pulses (HCPs) can be used to alter the momentum distribution of atomic electrons over subpicosecond timescales. Previously, momentum kicks from HCPs were used to produce electronic wave packets from highly excited Rydberg eigenstates. In addition, these pulses have been used to kick bound electrons into the continuum, making it possible to monitor the time-dependent momentum distribution of electronic wave packets. Conversely, our most recent experiments have shown that HCPs can extract momentum from free electrons, facilitating their capture by positive ions. In the experiments, calcium atoms in the singlet 4s4p level are photoionized into the continuum using a 1.5ps, 390-nm laser pulse.

Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics•Nov 27, 2002•0 citations
It has recently been proposed by us to attain very powerful, sub-cycle, near- and sub-femtosecond pulses by using two new principles, one of them based on the generation of powerful EM-bubbles (EMBs),1-2 unipolar solitons propagating in a gas of two-level or classically nonlinear atoms. One of the major avenues of EMB-generation is the use of existing HCPs to launch EMBs much shorter than originating HCPs.
We demonstrate the feasibility of strong (up to atomic fields) and super-short (few- or even sub-femtosecond) sub-cycle (non-oscillating) electromagnetic solitons — EM bubbles (EMBs) in a gas of two-level atoms, as well as EMBs and pre-ionization shock waves in classically nonlinear atoms. We show that EMBs can be generated by existing sources of radiation, including sub-picosecond half-cycle pulses and very short laser pulses. We investigate how EMB characteristics are controlled by those of originating pulses. Our most recent results are focused on the related transient phenomena, including EMB formation length, multi-bubble generation and shock-like waves. We also develop the theory of the diffraction-induced transformation of sub-cycle pulses in linear media. These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
We demonstrate the feasibility of strong (up to atomic fields) and supershort (few-femtosecond or even subfemtosecond) subcycle (nonoscillating) electromagnetic solitons [EM bubbles (EMB’s)] in a gas of two-level atoms as well as EMB’s and preionization shock waves in classically nonlinear atoms. We show that EMB’s can be generated by existing sources of radiation, including subpicosecond half-cycle pulses and short laser pulses. We investigate how EMB characteristics are controlled by those of originating pulses. Our most recent results are focused on related transient phenomena, including EMB formation length, multibubble generation, and shocklike waves.
Recently, we have proposed two avenues to generating ultrashort (potentially, subfemtosecond) and intense (up to atomic fields) nonoscillating pulses: a high-repetition train of such pulses can be produced in multicomponent stimulated Raman scattering [1], and a single pulse ("electromagnetic bubble" -- EMB) or several of them can result [2,3] from the propagation of an initially broad unipolar pulse (half-cycle pulse -- HCP [4]) in an appropriate nonlinear medium. Such pulses could cause a substantial "shake-up" excitation or ionization of an atomic system within the time much smaller than any characteristic time of the system. These "superpulses" would open a new chapter in nonlinear optics and atomic and molecular physics, both as a new probing tool and a source of new effects. In the present paper, we consider one of them: backward and multi-echo field ionization [5].
Summary form only given. Unipolar half-cycle pulses (HCPs) can be used to alter the momentum distribution of atomic electrons over subpicosecond timescales. Previously, momentum kicks from HCPs were used to produce electronic wave packets from highly excited Rydberg eigenstates. In addition, these pulses have been used to kick bound electrons into the continuum, making it possible to monitor the time-dependent momentum distribution of electronic wave packets. Conversely, our most recent experiments have shown that HCPs can extract momentum from free electrons, facilitating their capture by positive ions. In the experiments, calcium atoms in the singlet 4s4p level are photoionized into the continuum using a 1.5ps, 390-nm laser pulse.