Novel quasi phase matching of high harmonic generation via advanced dual gas multi jet targets
Lead Research Organisation:
Queen's University Belfast
Department Name: Sch of Mathematics and Physics
Abstract
Ultrafast/attosecond physics is an exciting and dynamic research discipline, revealing atomic and molecular structures/processes with unprecedented spatial and temporal resolution. A significant limitation, however, has been the limited amount of laser energy that can be converted into XUV and soft x-ray regions of the spectrum. This is primarily due to phase mismatch between the driving laser and generated harmonic field, induced by the large free-electron contribution to the refractive index. Quasi-phasematching has been a front runner in the drive towards this objective but to date has been largely confined to low average power 'proof-of-principle' experiments in hollow core capillaries. This proposal seeks to develop a ground breaking new approach to quasi-phasematching developed by our group at QUB - dual gas multi-jet arrays in a capillary free geometry - to an exceptionally high standard.
In this proposal we intend to build upon experimental observations already made which verify this exciting new technique. Together with our collaborators at the HASYLAB (DESY, Hamburg) and TEI Rethymno (Crete) the current design will be extended to generate a high average power harmonic source suitable for seeding the FLASH free electron laser at DESY. In a second strand of this proposal we will use the unique ability of this source to fine-control the phase of HHG emission for intense single attosecond pulse generation. This proposal will form the core of an international collaboration aimed at delivering the first high average power HHG source and intense attosecond pulses, and work will be performed on lasers at QUB, DESY and TEI Crete.
In this proposal we intend to build upon experimental observations already made which verify this exciting new technique. Together with our collaborators at the HASYLAB (DESY, Hamburg) and TEI Rethymno (Crete) the current design will be extended to generate a high average power harmonic source suitable for seeding the FLASH free electron laser at DESY. In a second strand of this proposal we will use the unique ability of this source to fine-control the phase of HHG emission for intense single attosecond pulse generation. This proposal will form the core of an international collaboration aimed at delivering the first high average power HHG source and intense attosecond pulses, and work will be performed on lasers at QUB, DESY and TEI Crete.
Planned Impact
The socio-economic impact of developing complete coherent control of high harmonic generation in gases can be categorized into two main strands.
First to benefit will be the accelerator based ultrafast X-ray source user community - including groups from both science and industry. This community spans materials science (semiconductor industry, advanced materials for solar cell research etc) to diffractive imaging of single molecules for in vivo studies of biomedical samples. Our research will allow better pulse energy stability and focusability of the X-ray radiation produced by these multi billion pound machines, which in turn will allow users to metrologise their samples with unprecedented accuracy.
Secondly, over a longer term, this work will contribute significantly to the downsizing of ultrafast X-ray sources. Controlling the process by which harmonics are generated in gas targets coherently will ultimately lead to compact bright sources. In turn this will provide the basis for moderately priced systems (<£3m) that will be useful in numerous scientific and industrial applications. One excellent example of this is imaging of in vivo cells in aqueous solutions using coherent radiation generated in the 'water-window' region of the spectrum. Allowing onoclogical researchers access to systems capable of delivering bright water window radiation on a regular basis from an in house system (as opposed to competitive slots at large facilities) will expedite our understanding of the basic mechanisms of metastasis and hopefully, in time, lead to better cures/preventative measures for the spread of cancer in the body. Our method for coherent control of the generation process of X-rays in gases is the first step on the road to such a commercially viable device.
First to benefit will be the accelerator based ultrafast X-ray source user community - including groups from both science and industry. This community spans materials science (semiconductor industry, advanced materials for solar cell research etc) to diffractive imaging of single molecules for in vivo studies of biomedical samples. Our research will allow better pulse energy stability and focusability of the X-ray radiation produced by these multi billion pound machines, which in turn will allow users to metrologise their samples with unprecedented accuracy.
Secondly, over a longer term, this work will contribute significantly to the downsizing of ultrafast X-ray sources. Controlling the process by which harmonics are generated in gas targets coherently will ultimately lead to compact bright sources. In turn this will provide the basis for moderately priced systems (<£3m) that will be useful in numerous scientific and industrial applications. One excellent example of this is imaging of in vivo cells in aqueous solutions using coherent radiation generated in the 'water-window' region of the spectrum. Allowing onoclogical researchers access to systems capable of delivering bright water window radiation on a regular basis from an in house system (as opposed to competitive slots at large facilities) will expedite our understanding of the basic mechanisms of metastasis and hopefully, in time, lead to better cures/preventative measures for the spread of cancer in the body. Our method for coherent control of the generation process of X-rays in gases is the first step on the road to such a commercially viable device.
People |
ORCID iD |
Brendan Hugh Dromey (Principal Investigator) | |
K Zepf (Co-Investigator) |
Publications
Bin JH
(2015)
Ion Acceleration Using Relativistic Pulse Shaping in Near-Critical-Density Plasmas.
in Physical review letters
Dromey B
(2016)
Picosecond metrology of laser-driven proton bursts.
in Nature communications
Hage A
(2014)
New design of a multi-jet target for quasi phase matching.
in The Review of scientific instruments
Hahn T
(2014)
Broadband XUV polarimetry of high harmonics from plasma surfaces using multiple Fresnel reflections
in Applied Physics B
Jung D
(2015)
On the analysis of inhomogeneous magnetic field spectrometer for laser-driven ion acceleration.
in The Review of scientific instruments
Jung D
(2015)
Scaling of ion energies in the relativistic-induced transparency regime
in Laser and Particle Beams
Ma WJ
(2014)
Bright subcycle extreme ultraviolet bursts from a single dense relativistic electron sheet.
in Physical review letters
Senje L
(2014)
Diagnostics for studies of novel laser ion acceleration mechanisms.
in The Review of scientific instruments
Willner A
(2012)
Coherent spectral enhancement of carrier-envelope-phase stable continua with dual-gas high harmonic generation.
in Optics letters
Yeung M
(2015)
Noncollinear Polarization Gating of Attosecond Pulse Trains in the Relativistic Regime.
in Physical review letters
Description | Develping novel gas targets for short pulses of x-rays to study atomic processes |
Exploitation Route | Our findings can be implemented as seed sources for next generation high average power x-ray free electron lasers |
Sectors | Aerospace Defence and Marine Education Electronics Environment Security and Diplomacy Other |
Description | We have applied our findings to the generation of new sources for biomedical imaging and materials science. We have submitted our finds to scientific journals for publication (Review of scientific instruments and New journal of physics. This has led to the development of novel targets and new methods to enhance the efficiency of attosecond pulse generation |
First Year Of Impact | 2012 |
Sector | Aerospace, Defence and Marine,Education,Electronics,Energy,Security and Diplomacy,Transport,Other |
Impact Types | Societal Economic |
Description | EPSRC equipment upgrade |
Amount | £1,000,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 04/2015 |
End | 10/2016 |
Description | Helmholtz institute Jena |
Organisation | Friedrich Schiller University Jena (FSU) |
Country | Germany |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | WE attended and designed new experiments on the Jeti laser in Jena |
Collaborator Contribution | Access to world class laser facilities, plasma mirror setup and cutting edge diagnostic suite |
Impact | > 6 published articles (PRL, 3 invited talks at international conferences |
Start Year | 2010 |
Description | Partnership with Class 5 lasers DESY hamburg |
Organisation | Deutsches Electronen-Synchrotron (DESY) |
Country | Germany |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | We have aided in developing novel x-ray sources for deployment at free electron lasers |
Collaborator Contribution | They have provided access to expertise and engineering |
Impact | 3 publications accepted, two publications pending |
Start Year | 2012 |
Description | TEI Crete collaboration |
Organisation | Technological Educational Institute of Crete |
Country | Greece |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Travelled and performed experiments at the ultrafast laser system in Rethymno, Crete |
Collaborator Contribution | They provided access to their laser system at not cost and full time experimental support |
Impact | 3 publications, 1 PRL, 1 New Journal of Physics and 1 Optics letters Plans and invitations for future experiments |
Start Year | 2010 |
Description | Crete summer school |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | Creating awareness to international PhD students about on going work in relativistic laser plasmas and attosecond sources Experiments planned, international networking, invited talks |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2009,2010,2011,2012,2013,2014 |
Description | Cross border schools initiative |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | School students interest in scientific discussions Students planning to visit lab, cross border initiative |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012,2013,2014 |
Description | Incredible power of light roadshow |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | We hosted and provided full time staffing for the Incredible power of light roadshow from the STFC in the Ulster Museum during February and March 2015. Our active participation in this public out reach event saw over 10,000 members of the public and over 1000 pupils from regional (Northern Ireland) schools. We demonstrated the exhibits and informed attendees about how to pursue careers in science, technology engineering and mathematics with particular emphasis on laser and light based technologies. Since this was the first year it was difficult to directly measure impact. However our success saw my group invited to return to present the exhibits again the following year (2016). Also the impact on regional schools was tangible with over 10 requests from individual school groups to provide year round displays in public forums with dedicated exhibitors such as those provided by my group. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
Description | Lasers live demonstration, Northern Ireland Science festival |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | In 2015 the inaugural Northern Ireland Science festival was held. Following our successful collaboration with Ulster museum with the STFCs Incredible Power of Light roadshow we were invited to build and demonstrate a Laser's Live exhibition in the Foyer of the Ulster Museum. This highly visible location saw nearly 11,000 members of the public attend live demonstrations of how light energy can be harnessed over an 9 day period in 2015. This was so successful the Ulster Museum invited us to return for an extended period in 2016, extending our reach beyond that of the Northern Ireland Science festival for a 12 day residence in the Foyer. This saw > 18,000 attendees to the museum visit our live demonstrations We performed detailed metrology in 2016 with over 1000 questionnaires completed by school students and members of the public with ages ranging from 3 - >60 years. The results of these questionnaires are currently being processed but the response has been overwhelming. All numbers for attendance are official numbers of the Ulster Museum. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015,2016 |
Description | UCD Japan Ireland Initiative |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.) |
Results and Impact | Generate new collaborative links in Japan, investigate novel funding streams New collaborations forged, invitations to international labs for experiments |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012,2013,2014 |