Attosecond time-sale feedback control of coherent X-ray generation
Date
2001
Authors
Murnane, Margaret, author
Kapteyn, Henry, author
Christov, Ivan, author
Backus, Sterling, author
Bartels, Randy, author
Elsevier Science B. V., publisher
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Abstract
High-harmonic generation is an extreme, high-order, nonlinear process that converts intense, ultrafast, visible and infrared laser light pulses coherently into the soft X-ray region of the spectrum. We demonstrate that by optimizing the shape of an ultrafast laser pulse, we can selectively enhance this process by promoting strong constructive interference between X-ray bursts emitted from adjacent optical cycles. This work demonstrates that coherent control of highly nonlinear processes in the strong-field regime is possible by adjusting the relative timing of the crests of an electromagnetic wave on a sub-optical cycle, attosecond time scale.