EPSRC logo

Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference: GR/R65923/01
Title: Phase matching harmonics from gases at high intensities
Principal Investigator: Zepf, Professor KM
Other Investigators:
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
Max Planck Institutes (Grouped)
Department: Sch of Mathematics and Physics
Organisation: Queen's University of Belfast
Scheme: Fast Stream
Starts: 06 March 2002 Ends: 05 September 2005 Value (£): 60,473
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:
Lasers & Optics Plasmas - Laser & Fusion
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:
No relevance to Underpinning Sectors
Related Grants:
Panel History:  
Summary on Grant Application Form
Generation of high order harmonics from gases is a well established means of generating soft X-ray radiation. So far very short wavelengths (2nm) and reasonably high conversion efficiencies have been observed (-105 at hv-20eV). However, the highest conversion efficiencies are limited to fairly long wavelengths. High conversion efficiencies are achieved by phase matching the generation of the harmonics to the fundamental throughout the non-linear medium. So far, all successful experiments have pursued schemes whereby matching is only achieved efficiently at one intensity and/or have had to contend with rapid ionisation of the medium. This limits the conversion efficiency and the shortest wavelength at which phase matching can be achieved. The method that will be investigated here will allow high intensities to be used, by using a difference frequency mixing scheme in a scenario where the ionisation of the non-linear medium is only a perturbation to the refractive index. This will allow the strong intensity scaling of the single atom response to be exploited, and the phase matched generation of short wavelength harmonics for the full of the pump pulse. It is anticipated that this will lead to substantial performance improvements especially at shorter wavelengths.
Key Findings
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
Potential use in non-academic contexts
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
Impacts
Description This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
Summary
Date Materialised
Sectors submitted by the Researcher
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
Project URL:  
Further Information:  
Organisation Website: http://www.qub.ac.uk