%0 Journal Article %J High Power Laser Science and Engineering %D 2024 %T A GHz chirped amplitude-modulated laser for high-contrast plasma gratings %A Michael Valdman %A Amir Hen %A Marcus, Gilad %X

The generation and control of large amplitude plasma gratings and other plasma structures is of paramount importance for the realization of plasma photonics. Autoresonant excitation of such structures by means of chirped amplitude-modulated lasers has been recently discussed and analyzed theoretically. Here we discuss the parameter space for the realization of such a scheme and describe the laser system that was built towards this goal. We also expand our earlier theoretical study to account for the more realistic case of a moderately focused laser beam, instead of the simplified plane wave approximation.

%B High Power Laser Science and Engineering %V 12 %P e8 %G eng %U 10.1017/hpl.2023.87; %0 Journal Article %J Scientific Reports %D 2023 %T Simulation of laser-induced tunnel ionization based on a curved waveguide %A Arnon Ben-Levy %A Amir Hen %A Merav Kahn %A Tamar Levin %A Noa Mazurski %A Levy, Uriel %A Marcus, Gilad %X

The problem of tunneling ionization and the associated questions of how long it takes for an electron to tunnel through the barrier, and what the tunneling rate has fascinated scientists for almost a century. In strong field physics, tunnel ionization plays an important role, and accurate knowledge of the time-dependent tunnel rate is of paramount importance. The Keldysh theory and other more advanced related theories are often used, but their accuracy is still controversial. In previous work, we suggested using a curved waveguide as a quantum simulator to simulate the tunnel ionization process. Here we implemented for the first time such a curved waveguide and observed the simulated tunneling ionization process. We compare our results with the theory.

%B Scientific Reports %V 13 %P 12612 %G eng %U https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-023-39142-1 %N 1 %0 Journal Article %J Physica Scripta %D 2022 %T Optical parametric amplifier pulse cleaning driven by aperiodic frequency converter %A Zaharit Refaeli %A Marcus, Gilad %A Haim Suchowski %A Shamir, Yariv %X

We demonstrate temporal shape improvement of a short laser pulse using chirped aperiodic nonlinear frequency converter within an optical parametric amplifier. The aperiodic converter generated walk-off free high spatial quality pulse with ∼40% efficiency second harmonic while preserving the pump bandwidth. A <300 fs idler pulse was generated, with ∼10 nm central wavelength tunability around 1053 nm by pump generation and phase matching control. A pronounced contrast pedestal suppression of up to 40 dB was observed within a few picoseconds range around the peak. Such pedestal suppression has good scalability potential to high energies.

%B Physica Scripta %V 97 %P 075503 %G eng %N 7 %0 Journal Article %J High Power Laser Science and Engineering %D 2021 %T Control of amorphous solid water target morphology induced by deposition on a charged surface %A Bespaly, Alexander %A Dey, Indranuj %A Papeer, Jenya %A Shaham, Assaf %A Pavel Komm %A Hadad, Ibrahim %A Marcus, Gilad %A Zigler, Arie %B High Power Laser Science and Engineering %I Cambridge University Press %V 9 %P e37 %G eng %R 10.1017/hpl.2021.24 %0 Journal Article %J Opt. Lett. %D 2020 %T Efficient all-solid-state passively Q-switched SWIR Tm:YAP/KGW Raman laser %A Perez, Eytan %A Uzziel Sheintop %A Rotem Nahear %A Marcus, Gilad %A Salman Noach %K Fiber lasers %K Laser beams %K Laser energy %K Laser sources %K Raman lasers %K Solid state lasers %X

We present an all-passive efficient KGW Raman laser with an external-cavity configuration in the 2 µm spectral regime. The Raman laser was pumped by a passively Q-switched Tm:YAP laser emitting at 1935 nm. Due to the bi-axial properties of the KGW crystal, the laser exhibits stimulated Raman emission at two separate spectral lines: 2272 nm and 2343 nm. The output energies achieved at these two lines are 340 µJ/pulse and 450 µJ/pulse, accordingly. The seed to Raman laser conversion efficiencies achieved of 19.2% and 23.5%, respectively, are comparable to actively Q-switched laser arrangements. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time an efficient Raman laser in the 2 µm regime is demonstrated in a completely passive configuration.

%B Opt. Lett. %I OSA %V 45 %P 5409–5412 %8 Oct %G eng %U http://ol.osa.org/abstract.cfm?URI=ol-45-19-5409 %N 19 %R 10.1364/OL.401833 %0 Journal Article %J Opt. Express %D 2020 %T Laser-induced inner-shell excitations through direct electron re-collision versus indirect collision %A Deng, Yunpei %A Zhinan Zeng %A Pavel Komm %A Yinghui Zheng %A Helml, Wolfram %A Xinhua Xie %A Zoltan Filus %A Mathieu Dumergue %A Roland Flender %A Máté Kurucz %A Ludovit Haizer %A Balint Kiss %A Subhendu Kahaly %A Ruxin Li %A Marcus, Gilad %K electric fields %K High power lasers %K Infrared lasers %K Laser beams %K Magnetic fields %K Quantum dot lasers %X

The dynamics and the decay processes of inner-shell excited atoms are of great interest in physics, chemistry, biology, and technology. The highly excited state decays very quickly through different channels, both radiative and non-radiative. It is therefore a long-standing goal to study such dynamics directly in the time domain. Using few-cycle infrared laser pulses, we investigated the excitation and ionization of inner-shell electrons through laser-induced electron re-collision with the original parent ions and measured the dependence of the emitted x-ray spectra on the intensity and ellipticity of the driving laser. These directly re-colliding electrons can be used as the initiating pump step in pump/probe experiments for studying core-hole dynamics at their natural temporal scale. In our experiment we found that the dependence of the x-ray emission spectrum on the laser intensity and polarization state varies distinctly for the two kinds of atomic systems. Relying on our data and numerical simulations, we explain this behavior by the presence of different excitation mechanisms that are contributing in different ratios to the respective overall x-ray emission yields. Direct re-collision excitation competes with indirect collisions with neighboring atoms by electrons having &\#x201C;drifted away&\#x201D; from the original parent ion.

%B Opt. Express %I OSA %V 28 %P 23251–23265 %8 Aug %G eng %U http://www.opticsexpress.org/abstract.cfm?URI=oe-28-16-23251 %N 16 %R 10.1364/OE.395927 %0 Conference Paper %B X-Ray Lasers 2018 %D 2020 %T Ultrafast Inner-Shell Electron Excitation with High Energy Recollision Electron Driven by Mid-infrared Laser %A Zeng, Z. %A Deng, Y. %A Zheng, Y. %A Marcus, G. %A Li, R. %E Kozlová, Michaela %E Nejdl, Jaroslav %X

As one of the most important physical processes of strong-field laser-matter interaction, laser-driven electron-ion recollision is the fundamental process. As we have known, the well-known three-step model of HHG predicts that the cutoff law obeys Ecutoffþinspace}=þinspace}Ipþinspace}+þinspace}3.17Up, implying that the maximum kinetic energy of returning electron can be greatly extended by increasing the driving wavelength. With the long wavelength mid-infrared laser pulse, it is easy for the ponderomotive energy of the returning electron to be very large to excite the deep inner-shell electron, which may be used to investigate the ultrafast inner-shell electron dynamics.

%B X-Ray Lasers 2018 %I Springer International Publishing %C Cham %P 85–91 %@ 978-3-030-35453-4 %G eng %0 Journal Article %J Physics of Plasmas %D 2019 %T Excitation and control of large amplitude standing ion acoustic waves %A Friedland,L. %A Marcus, G. %A Wurtele,J. S. %A Michel,P. %X

We study the formation of large-amplitude standing ion acoustic waves (SIAWs) by nonlinear phase-locking (autoresonance) with a weak, chirped frequency standing ponderomotive drive. These waves comprise a nonlinear two-phase solution, with each phase locked to one of the two traveling waves comprising the drive. The autoresonance in the system is guaranteed provided that the driving amplitude exceeds a threshold. The phenomenon is illustrated via water bag simulations within a nonlinear ion fluid model and analyzed using Whitham's averaged variational principle. The local ion and electron densities in the autoresonant SIAWs may significantly exceed the initial unperturbed plasma density and are only limited by kinetic wave-breaking.

Appeared also in SciLight

%B Physics of Plasmas %V 26 %P 092109 %G eng %U https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5122300 %N 9 %R 10.1063/1.5122300 %0 Journal Article %J Opt. Express %D 2019 %T Carrier-to-envelope phase-stable, mid-infrared, ultrashort pulses from a hybrid parametric generator: Cr:ZnSe laser amplifier system %A Pavel Komm %A Uzziel Sheintop %A Salman Noach %A Marcus, Gilad %K Hybrid lasers %K Laser amplifiers %K Optical amplifiers %K Q switched lasers %K Solid state lasers %K Ultrafast lasers %X

Our Cr:ZnSe laser amplifier, seeded by parametric difference mixing, produces 72fs long pulses at the central wavelength of  2.37&\#x00B5;m. The stability of the carrier-to-envelope phase of the amplified seed pulses, attained at the stage of their parametric generation, is preserved through 6 orders of magnitude of laser amplification.

%B Opt. Express %I OSA %V 27 %P 18522–18532 %8 Jun %G eng %U http://www.opticsexpress.org/abstract.cfm?URI=oe-27-13-18522 %N 13 %R 10.1364/OE.27.018522 %0 Journal Article %J Opt. Express %D 2019 %T Two-wavelength Tm:YLF/KGW external-cavity Raman laser at 2197 nm and 2263 nm %A Uzziel Sheintop %A Daniel Sebbag %A Pavel Komm %A Pearl, Shaul %A Marcus, Gilad %A Salman Noach %K High power lasers %K Laser beams %K Laser energy %K Q switched lasers %K Raman lasers %K Solid state lasers %X

This paper presents a KGW Raman laser with an external-cavity configuration at the 2 &\#x00B5;m region. The Raman laser is pumped by an actively Q-switched Tm:YLF laser, especially designed for this purpose emitting at 1880 nm. Due to the KGW bi-axial properties, the Raman laser is able to lase separately at two different output lines, 2197 nm and 2263 nm. The output energies and pulse durations that were achieved for these two lines are 0.15 mJ/pulse at 21 ns and 0.4 mJ/pulse at 5.4 ns, respectively. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that the KGW crystal, which is well known for its wide use in shorter wavelengths, is demonstrated in a Raman laser in the 2 &\#x00B5;m region. According to the achieved results and due to the KGW properties, it appears to be a suitable crystal for energy scaling and efficient Raman conversion in this spectral range. An estimation of the Raman gain coefficient for this wavelength is provided as well.

%B Opt. Express %I OSA %V 27 %P 17112–17121 %8 Jun %G eng %U http://www.opticsexpress.org/abstract.cfm?URI=oe-27-12-17112 %N 12 %R 10.1364/OE.27.017112 %0 Journal Article %J Opt. Lett. %D 2019 %T Parametric amplification in large-aperture diffusion-bonded periodically poled crystals %A Eli Sobolev %A Pavel Komm %A Salman Noah %A Marcus, Gilad %K amplified spontaneous emission %K Fiber optic amplifiers %K Fresnel diffraction %K numerical simulation %K Optical amplifiers %K Regenerative amplification %X

With conventional poling techniques of pyroelectric crystals, the thickness of the periodically poled crystals is typically limited to 0.5&\#x2013;1&\#x00A0;mm. Such a small aperture of the crystal limits the amount of energy/power that this device may deliver. Here we discuss diffusion bonding as an alternative method to achieve a wider periodically poled crystal, with virtually unlimited width. It is shown that the amplified signal preserved a good beam profile despite a possible phase shift between the stitched crystals. This technique may be extended to larger aperture optical parametric amplifiers and allows for high energy output from periodically poled crystals.

%B Opt. Lett. %I OSA %V 44 %P 1261–1264 %8 Mar %G eng %U http://ol.osa.org/abstract.cfm?URI=ol-44-5-1261 %N 5 %R 10.1364/OL.44.001261 %0 Journal Article %J Optica %D 2018 %T Propagation-enhanced generation of intense high-harmonic continua in the 100-eV spectral region %A Rivas, D. E. %A Major, B. %A Weidman, M. %A Helml, W. %A Marcus, G. %A Kienberger, R. %A Charalambidis, D. %A Tzallas, P. %A Balogh, E. %A Kovács, K. %A Tosa, V. %A Bergues, B. %A Varjú, K. %A Veisz, L. %K Attosecond pulses %K electric fields %K Free electron lasers %K Nonlinear spectroscopy %K Phase matching %K Ultraviolet radiation %X

The study of core electron dynamics through nonlinear spectroscopy requires intense isolated attosecond extreme ultraviolet or even X-ray pulses. A robust way to produce these pulses is high-harmonic generation (HHG) in a gas medium. However, the energy upscaling of the process depends on a very demanding next-generation laser technology that provides multi-terawatt (TW) laser pulses with few-optical-cycle duration and controlled electric field. Here, we revisit the HHG process driven by 16-TW sub-two-cycle laser pulses to reach high intensity in the 100-eV spectral region and beyond. We show that the combination of above barrier-suppression intensity with a long generation medium significantly enhances the isolation of attosecond pulses compared to lower intensities and/or shorter media and this way reduces the pulse duration as well as field-stability requirements on the laser driver. This novel regime facilitates the real-time observation of electron dynamics at the attosecond timescale in atoms, molecules, and solids.

%B Optica %V 5 %P 1283–1289 %G eng %U https://www.osapublishing.org/optica/abstract.cfm?uri=optica-5-10-1283 %N 10 %R 10.1364/OPTICA.5.001283 %0 Journal Article %J Optics Express %D 2018 %T Actively Q-switched tunable narrow bandwidth milli-Joule level Tm:YLF laser %A Uzziel Sheintop %A Perez, Eytan %A Daniel Sebbag %A Pavel Komm %A Marcus, Gilad %A Salman Noach %K Fiber lasers %K IR laser %K Laser beams %K Laser sources %K Laser systems %K Solid state lasers %K Tunable lasers %X

A pulsed high energy and narrow bandwidth tunable Tm:YLF laser at the milli-Joule level is demonstrated. The spectral bandwidth was narrowed down to 0.15 nm FWHM, while 33 nm of tunability range between 1873 nm and 1906 nm was achieved using a pair of YAG Etalons. The laser was actively Q-switched using an acousto-optic modulator and mJ level pulse energy was measured along the whole tuning range at a repetition rate of 1 kHz. Up to 1.97 mJ of energy per pulse was achieved at a pulse duration of 37 ns at a wavelength of 1879 nm, corresponding to a peak-power of 53.2 kW and at a slope efficiency of 36 &\#x00025;. The combination of both high energy pulsed lasing and spectral tunability, while maintaining narrow bandwidth across the whole tunability range, enhances the laser abilities, which could enable new applications in the sensing, medical and material processing fields.

%B Optics Express %V 26 %P 22135–22143 %G eng %U https://www.osapublishing.org/oe/abstract.cfm?uri=oe-26-17-22135 %N 17 %R 10.1364/OE.26.022135 %0 Journal Article %J The Journal of Physical Chemistry C %D 2018 %T Fast Energy Transfer in CdSe Quantum Dot Layered Structures: Controlling Coupling with Covalent-Bond Organic Linkers %A Cohen, Eyal %A Pavel Komm %A Rosenthal-Strauss, Noa %A Dehnel, Joanna %A Efrat Lifshitz %A Yochelis, Shira %A Levine, Raphael D. %A Remacle, Francoise %A Fresch, Barbara %A Marcus, Gilad %A Paltiel, Yossi %X

Quantum dot (QD) solids and arrays hold a great potential for novel applications which are aimed at exploiting quantum properties in room-temperature devices. Careful tailoring of the QD energy levels and coupling between dots could lead to efficient energy-harvesting devices. Here, we used a self-assembly method to create a disordered layered structure of QDs, coupled by covalently bonded organic molecules. Energy transfer rates from small (donor) to large (acceptor) QDs are measured. Best tailoring of the QDs energy levels and the length of the linking molecules results in an energy transfer rate as high as 30 ps–1. Such rates approach energy transfer rates of the highly efficient photosynthesis complexes and are compatible with a coherent mechanism of energy transfer. These results may pave way for new controllable building blocks for future technologies.

%B The Journal of Physical Chemistry C %G eng %U https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jpcc.7b11799 %R 10.1021/acs.jpcc.7b11799 %0 Journal Article %J Optica %D 2018 %T Tabletop nonlinear optics in the 100-eV spectral region %A Bergues, B. %A Rivas, D. E. %A Weidman, M. %A Muschet, A. A. %A Helml, W. %A Guggenmos, A. %A Pervak, V. %A Kleineberg, U. %A Marcus, G. %A Kienberger, R. %A Charalambidis, D. %A Tzallas, P. %A Schröder, H. %A Krausz, F. %A Veisz, L. %K AS-6 %K AS6 %K nonlinear XUV %X

Nonlinear light&\#x2013;matter interactions in the extreme ultraviolet (XUV) are a prerequisite to perform XUV-pump/XUV-probe spectroscopy of core electrons. Such interactions are now routinely investigated at free-electron laser (FEL) facilities. Yet, electron dynamics are often too fast to be captured with the femtosecond resolution of state-of-the-art FELs. Attosecond pulses from laser-driven XUV-sources offer the necessary temporal resolution. However, intense attosecond pulses supporting nonlinear processes have only been available for photon energy below 50&\#x00A0;eV, precluding XUV-pump/XUV-probe investigation of typical inner-shell processes. Here, we surpass this limitation by demonstrating two-photon absorption from inner electronic shells of xenon at photon energies around 93&\#x00A0;eV and 115&\#x00A0;eV. This advance opens the door for attosecond real-time observation of nonlinear electron dynamics deep inside atoms.

%B Optica %V 5 %P 237–242 %G eng %U https://www.osapublishing.org/abstract.cfm?uri=optica-5-3-237 %N 3 %R 10.1364/OPTICA.5.000237 %0 Journal Article %J Laser Physics %D 2018 %T 87 fs CEP-stable Cr:ZnSe laser system %A Pavel Komm %A Uzziel Sheintop %A Salman Noach %A Marcus, Gilad %X

A hybrid laser scheme for the generation and amplification of mid-IR ultrashort pulses, with a carrier to envelope stable phase, is presented. Seed mid-IR pulses with picojoule energies are obtained via intrapulse difference frequency generation from an 8 fs Ti:sapphire oscillator. The energy of these seed pulses is then amplified in a multipass Cr:ZnSe laser amplifier to more than a nanojoule/pulse level. The duration of the amplified impulses is measured to be 87 fs, and the width of their spectrum supports their compression to ~50 fs.

%B Laser Physics %V 28 %P 025301 %G eng %U http://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1555-6611/aa9abf %N 2 %0 Journal Article %J J. Phys. B: At. Mol. Opt. Phys. %D 2017 %T Proposal for strong field physics simulation by means of optical waveguide %A Merav Kahn %A Marcus, Gilad %K bend loss formula %K kramers henneberger transformation %K numerical simulation %K Tunnel ionization %X

Understanding the interaction of atoms and molecules with an intense laser radiation field is key for many applications such as high harmonic generation and attosecond physics. Because of the non-perturbative nature of strong field physics, some simplifications and approximation methods are often used to shed light on these processes. One of the most fruitful approaches to gain an insight into the physics of such interactions is the three-step-model, in which, the electron first tunnels out through the barrier and then propagates classically in the continuum. Despite the great success of this and other more sophisticated models there are still many ambiguities and open questions, e.g. how long it takes for the electron to tunnel through the barrier. Most of them stem from the difficulties in understanding electron trajectories in the classically ‘forbidden’ zone under the barrier. In this theoretical paper we show that strong field physics and the propagation of electromagnetic waves in a curved waveguide are governed by the same Schrödinger equation. We propose to fabricate a curved optical waveguide, and use this isomorphism to mimic strong field physics. Such a simulating system will allow us to directly probe the wave-function at any point, including the ‘tunneling’ zone.

%B J. Phys. B: At. Mol. Opt. Phys. %V 50 %P 095004 %G eng %U http://stacks.iop.org/0953-4075/50/i=9/a=095004 %N 9 %R 10.1088/1361-6455/aa65a9 %0 Journal Article %J Scientific Reports %D 2017 %T Next Generation Driver for Attosecond and Laser-plasma Physics %A Rivas, D. E. %A Borot, A. %A Cardenas, D. E. %A Marcus, G. %A Gu, X. %A Herrmann, D. %A Xu, J. %A Tan, J. %A Kormin, D. %A Ma, G. %A Dallari, W. %A Tsakiris, G. D. %A Földes, I. B. %A Chou, S.-w %A Weidman, M. %A Bergues, B. %A Wittmann, T. %A Schröder, H. %A Tzallas, P. %A Charalambidis, D. %A Razskazovskaya, O. %A Pervak, V. %A Krausz, F. %A Veisz, L. %X

The observation and manipulation of electron dynamics in matter call for attosecond light pulses, routinely available from high-order harmonic generation driven by few-femtosecond lasers. However, the energy limitation of these lasers supports only weak sources and correspondingly linear attosecond studies. Here we report on an optical parametric synthesizer designed for nonlinear attosecond optics and relativistic laser-plasma physics. This synthesizer uniquely combines ultra-relativistic focused intensities of about 1020 W/cm2 with a pulse duration of sub-two carrier-wave cycles. The coherent combination of two sequentially amplified and complementary spectral ranges yields sub-5-fs pulses with multi-TW peak power. The application of this source allows the generation of a broad spectral continuum at 100-eV photon energy in gases as well as high-order harmonics in relativistic plasmas. Unprecedented spatio-temporal confinement of light now permits the investigation of electric-field-driven electron phenomena in the relativistic regime and ultimately the rise of next-generation intense isolated attosecond sources.

%B Scientific Reports %V 7 %P 5224 %G eng %U https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-017-05082-w %N 1 %R 10.1038/s41598-017-05082-w %0 Journal Article %J J. Phys. B: At. Mol. Opt. Phys. %D 2017 %T Proposal for strong field physics simulation by means of optical waveguide %A Merav Kahn %A Marcus, Gilad %B J. Phys. B: At. Mol. Opt. Phys. %V 50 %P 095004 %G eng %U http://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1361-6455/aa65a9 %0 Book Section %B Ultrashort Pulse Laser Technology %D 2016 %T Few-Cycle Mid-Infrared OPCPA System %A Gu, Xun %A Deng, Yunpei %A Marcus, Gilad %A Metzger, Thomas %A Kienberger, Reinhard %A Krausz, Ferenc %B Ultrashort Pulse Laser Technology %I Springer International Publishing %P 135–151 %G eng %U http://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-319-17659-8_7 %0 Journal Article %J Phys. Rev. Lett. %D 2016 %T Ultrafast Excitation of an Inner-Shell Electron by Laser-Induced Electron Recollision %A Deng, Yunpei %A Zhinan Zeng %A Zhengmao Jia %A Pavel Komm %A Yinhui Zheng %A Xiaochun Ge %A Ruxin Li %A Marcus, Gilad %X

Extreme ultraviolet attosecond pulses, generated by a process known as laser-induced electron recollision, are a key ingredient for attosecond metrology, providing a tool to precisely initiate and probe subfemtosecond dynamics in atoms, molecules, and solids. However, extending attosecond metrology to scrutinize the dynamics of the inner-shell electrons is a challenge, that is because of the lower efficiency in generating the required soft x-ray (ω>300eV) attosecond bursts. A way around this problem is to use the recolliding electron to directly initiate the desired inner-shell process, instead of using the currently low flux x-ray attosecond sources. Such an excitation process occurs in a subfemtosecond time scale, and may provide the necessary “pump” step in a pump-probe experiment. Here we used a few cycle infrared (λ01800nm) source and observed direct evidence for inner-shell excitations through the laser-induced electron recollision process. It is the first step toward time-resolved core-hole studies in the keV energy range with subfemtosecond time resolution.

%B Phys. Rev. Lett. %I American Physical Society %V 116 %P 073901 %8 Feb %G eng %U http://link.aps.org/doi/10.1103/PhysRevLett.116.073901 %R 10.1103/PhysRevLett.116.073901 %0 Journal Article %J arxiv %D 2015 %T Direct evidences for inner-shell electron-excitation by laser induced electron recollision %A Deng, Yunpei %A Zhinan Zeng %A Zhengmao Jia %A Pavel Komm %A Yinhui Zheng %A Xiaochun Ge %A Ruxin Li %A Marcus, Gilad %X

Extreme ultraviolet (XUV) attosecond pulses, generated by a process known as laser-induced electron recollision, are a key ingredient for attosecond metrology, providing a tool to precisely initiate and probe sub-femtosecond dynamics in the microcosms of atoms, molecules and solids[1]. However, with the current technology, extending attosecond metrology to scrutinize the dynamics of the inner-shell electrons is a challenge, that is because of the lower efficiency in generating the required soft x-ray \hbar\omega>300 eV attosecond bursts and the lower absorption cross-sections in this spectral range. A way around this problem is to use the recolliding electron to directly initiate the desired inner-shell process, instead of using the currently low flux x-ray attosecond sources.Such an excitation process occurs in a sub-femtosecond timescale, and may provide the necessary "pump" step in a pump-probe experiment[2]. Here we used a few cycle infrared \lambda_{0}~1800nm source[3] and observed direct evidences for inner-shell excitations through the laser-induced electron recollision process. It is the first step toward time-resolved core-hole studies in the keV energy range with sub-femtosecond time resolution.

%B arxiv %P 1509.05361 %G eng %U http://arxiv.org/abs/1509.05361 %0 Journal Article %J Phys. Rev. Lett. %D 2015 %T Discriminating between the role of phase matching and that of the single-atom response in resonance plasma-plume high harmonic generation %A Noa Rosenthal %A Marcus, Gilad %X

Resonance enhancement of high-order harmonic generation has recently been found in the interaction of intense ultra-short laser pulses with laser ablated plasma plumes. It is a promising route towards the production of an intense and coherent extreme ultraviolet radiation source. However, the mechanism of this resonance enhancement is still not clear. There are two possible explanations; one relies on a better recombination cross-section through an auto-ionization state in the single-atom response. The other, relies on improved phase matching
conditions around the resonance. Here we try to discriminate between these two conjectures by measuring coherence lengths of the harmonics, both on resonance and off resonance. Our findings support the single-atom response hypothesis.

%B Phys. Rev. Lett. %V 115 %P 133901 %8 2015 %G eng %U http://dx.doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.115.133901 %0 Journal Article %J Laser Physics Letters %D 2015 %T

High pulse energy passive Q-switching of a diode-pumped Tm:YLF laser by Cr:ZnSe

%A Arik Korenfeld %A Daniel Sebbag %A Udi Ben-Ami %A Eran Shalom %A Marcus, Gilad %A Salman Noach %X A passively Q-switched diode-pumped Tm:YLF laser with polycrystalline Cr:ZnSe as the saturable absorber is demonstrated for the first time, to the best of our knowledge. By using saturable absorbers with different initial transmission, the maximum pulse energy reached 4.22 mJ with peak power of 162.3 kW for a pulse duration of 26 ns. The maximum output average power amounted to 2.2 W. These results constitute significant improvement from the highest average power, pulse energy and peak power results for the PQS Tm:YLF laser to date. %B Laser Physics Letters %V 12 %P 045804 %G eng %U http://stacks.iop.org/1612-202X/12/i=4/a=045804 %0 Journal Article %J Physical Review Letters %D 2012 %T

Subcycle Controlled Charge-Directed Reactivity with Few-Cycle Midinfrared Pulses

%A Znakovskaya, I. %A von den Hoff, P. %A Marcus, G. %A Zherebtsov, S. %A Bergues, B. %A Gu, X. %A Deng, Y. %A Vrakking, M. J. J. %A Kienberger, R. %A Krausz, F. %A de Vivie-Riedle, R. %A Kling, M. F. %X The steering of electron motion in molecules is accessible with waveform-controlled few-cycle laser light and may control the outcome of light-induced chemical reactions. An optical cycle of light, however, is much shorter than the duration of the fastest dissociation reactions, severely limiting the degree of control that can be achieved. To overcome this limitation, we extended the control metrology to the midinfrared studying the prototypical dissociative ionization of D2 at 2.1 μm. Pronounced subcycle control of the directional D+ ion emission from the fragmentation of D2+ is observed, demonstrating unprecedented charge-directed reactivity. Two reaction pathways, showing directional ion emission, could be observed and controlled simultaneously for the first time. Quantum-dynamical calculations elucidate the dissociation channels, their observed phase relation, and the control mechanisms. %B Physical Review Letters %V 108 %8 2012 %G eng %U http://link.aps.org/doi/10.1103/PhysRevLett.108.063002 %N 6 %! Phys. Rev. Lett. %0 Manuscript %D 2012 %T

Carrier-envelope-phase-stable, 1.2mJ, 1.5 cycle laser pulses at 2.1μm

%A Deng, Yunpei %A Schwarz, Alexander %A Fattahi, Hanieh %A Ueffing, Moritz %A Gu, Xun %A Ossiander, Marcus %A Metzger, Thomas %A Pervak, Volodymyr %A Ishizuki, Hideki %A Taira, Takunori %A Kobayashi, Takayoshi %A Marcus, Gilad %A Krausz, Ferenc %A Kienberger, Reinhard %A Karpowicz, Nicholas %K Optical amplifiers %K Ultrafast lasers %X

We produce 1.5 cycle (10.5 fs), 1.2 mJ, 3 kHz carrier-envelope-phase-stable pulses at 2.1 μm carrier wavelength, from a three-stage optical parametric chirped-pulse amplifier system, pumped by an optically synchronized 1.6 ps Yb:YAG thin disk laser. A chirped periodically poled lithium niobate crystal is used to generate the ultrabroad spectrum needed for a 1.5 cycle pulse through difference frequency mixing of spectrally broadened pulse from a Ti:sapphire amplifier. It will be an ideal tool for producing isolated attosecond pulses with high photon energies.

%B Optics Letters %V 37 %P 4973 - 4975 %8 2012 %G eng %U http://ol.osa.org/abstract.cfm?URI=ol-37-23-4973 %N 23 %! Opt. Lett. %0 Journal Article %J Physical Review Letters %D 2012 %T

Subfemtosecond K-Shell Excitation with a Few-Cycle Infrared Laser Field

%A Marcus, Gilad %A Helml, Wolfram %A Gu, Xun %A Deng, Yunpei %A Hartmann, Robert %A Kobayashi, Takayoshi %A Strueder, Lothar %A Kienberger, Reinhard %A Krausz, Ferenc %K hhg - KeV energies %K HHG with IR %K HHG with molecules %K HHG yield %K inner shells processes %K laser induced electron recollision %K my papers %X

Subfemtosecond bursts of extreme ultraviolet radiation, facilitated by a process known as high-order harmonic generation, are a key ingredient for attosecond metrology, providing a tool to precisely initiate and probe ultrafast dynamics in the microcosms of atoms, molecules, and solids. These ultrashort pulses are always, and as a by-product of the way they are generated, accompanied by laser-induced recollisions of electrons with their parent ions. By using a few-cycle infrared (λ0=2.1 μm) driving laser, we were able to directly excite high-energy (∼870 eV) inner-shell electrons through laser-induced electron recollision, opening the door to time-resolved studies of core-level and concomitant multielectron dynamics.

%B Physical Review Letters %V 108 %P 023201 %8 2012 %G eng %U http://link.aps.org/doi/10.1103/PhysRevLett.108.023201 %N 2 %! Phys. Rev. Lett. %0 Journal Article %J New Journal of Physics %D 2011 %T

Sub-cycle electron control in the photoionization of xenon using a few-cycle laser pulse in the mid-infrared

%A Bergues, B. %A Zherebtsov, S. %A Deng, Y. %A Gu, X. %A Znakovskaya, I. %A Kienberger, R. %A Krausz, F. %A Marcus, G. %A Kling, M. F. %B New Journal of Physics %V 13 %8 2011 %@ 1367-2630 %G eng %U http://iopscience.iop.org/1367-2630/13/6/063010 %N 6 %0 Journal Article %J Optics Express %D 2010 %T

Dispersion control with reflection grisms of an ultra-broadband spectrum approaching a full octave

%A Dou, Tai H. %A Tautz, Raphael %A Gu, Xun %A Marcus, Gilad %A Feurer, Thomas %A Krausz, Ferenc %A Veisz, Laszlo %K Dispersion compensation devices %K grism %K Pulse compression %K Ultrafast measurements %X We report the design, implementation, and characterization of a grism-pair stretcher in a near-infrared noncollinear optical parametric chirped-pulse amplifier (OPCPA) that is capable of controlling a bandwidth of 440 nm. Our dynamic dispersion control scheme relies on the grism stretcher working in conjunction with an acousto-optic programmable dispersive filter (Dazzler) to jointly compensate large amount of material dispersion. A spectral interference technique is used to characterize the spectral phase of the grism stretcher. This ultra-broadband device opens up the way to generate sub-2-cycle laser pulses. %B Optics Express %V 18 %P 27900 - 27909 %8 2010 %G eng %U http://www.opticsexpress.org/abstract.cfm?URI=oe-18-26-27900 %N 26 %! Opt. Express %0 Journal Article %J Optics Express %D 2009 %T

Generation of carrier-envelope-phase-stable 2-cycle 740-uJ pulses at 2.1-um carrier wavelength

%A Gu, Xun %A Marcus, Gilad %A Deng, Yunpei %A Metzger, Thomas %A Teisset, Catherine %A Ishii, Nobuhisa %A Fuji, Takao %A Baltuska, Andrius %A Butkus, Rytis %A Pervak, Volodymyr %A Ishizuki, Hideki %A Taira, Takunori %A Kobayashi, Takayoshi %A Kienberger, Reinhard %A Krausz, Ferenc %K IR laser %K OPCPA %K Optical amplifiers %K Ultrafast lasers %X We produce carrier-envelope-phase-stable 15.7-fs (2-cycle) 740-μJ pulses at the 2.1-μm carrier wavelength, from a three-stage optical parametric chirped-pulse amplifier system, pumped by an optically synchronized 49-ps 11-mJ Nd:YLF laser. A novel seed pulse spectral shaping method is used to ascertain the true amplified seed energy and the parametric superfluorescence levels. %B Optics Express %V 17 %P 62 - 69 %8 2009 %G eng %U http://www.opticsexpress.org/abstract.cfm?URI=oe-17-1-62 %N 1 %! Opt. Express %0 Journal Article %J Journal of the Physical Society of Japan %D 2009 %T

Phase Separation Transition in Liquids and Polymers Induced by Electric Field Gradients

%A Marcus, Gilad %A Tsori, Yoav %K electric fields %K gradients %K liquid mixtures %K phase transitions %X Spatially uniform electric fields have been used to induce instabilities in liquids and polymers, and to orient and deform ordered phases of block-copolymers. Here we discuss the demixing phase transition occurring in liquid mixtures when they are subject to spatially nonuniform fields. Above the critical value of potential, a phase-separation transition occurs, and two coexisting phases appear separated by a sharp interface. Analytical and numerical composition profiles are given, and the interface location as a function of charge or voltage is found. The possible influence of demixing on the stability of suspensions and on inter-colloid interaction is discussed. ©2009 The Physical Society of Japan %B Journal of the Physical Society of Japan %V 78 %8 2009 %@ 0031-9015 %G eng %U http://jpsj.ipap.jp/link?JPSJ/78/041010/ %! J. Phys. Soc. Jpn. %0 Journal Article %J Optics Express %D 2009 %T Using the self-filtering property of a femtosecond filament to improve second harmonic generation %A Shwa, David %A Eisenmann, Shmuel %A Marcus, Gilad %A Zigler, Arie %K Atmospheric propagation %K filament %K Self-action effects %K Ultrafast nonlinear optics %X In this paper we demonstrate the use of NIR femtosecond filament for improving the generation of second harmonic using a type I BBO crystal. Using this method the beam propagation factor (M2) of the second harmonic was improved significantly; which led to enhancement of the attainable SH intensity by up to two orders of magnitude. This method can be beneficial for applications demanding high intensities, small spot size or long interaction lengths. %B Optics Express %V 17 %P 6451 - 6456 %8 2009 %G eng %U http://www.opticsexpress.org/abstract.cfm?URI=oe-17-8-6451 %N 8 %! Opt. Express %0 Journal Article %J Journal of Chemical Physics %D 2008 %T

Phase-separation transition in liquid mixtures near curved charged objects.

%A Marcus, Gilad %A Samin, Sela %A Tsori, Yoav %K COLLOIDS %K electric fields %K RELAXATION (Nuclear physics) %K THERMODYNAMIC equilibrium %K thermodynamics %X We study the thermodynamic behavior of nonpolar liquid mixtures in the vicinity of curved charged objects, such as electrodes or charged colloids. There is a critical value of charge (or potential), above which a phase-separation transition occurs, and the interface between high- and low-dielectric constant components becomes sharp. Analytical and numerical composition profiles are given, and the equilibrium front location as a function of charge or voltage is found. We further employ a simple Cahn–Hilliard type equation to study the dynamics of phase separation in spatially nonuniform electric fields. We find an exponential temporal relaxation of the demixing front location. We give the dependence of the steady-state location and characteristic time on the charge, mixture composition and ambient temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] %B Journal of Chemical Physics %V 129 %P 061101 - 4 %8 2008 %@ 00219606 %G eng %U http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aph&AN=34360348&site=eds-live %N 6 %! Journal of Chemical Physics %0 Journal Article %J Journal of Applied Physics %D 2008 %T

Stimulated Brillouin scattering pulse compression to 175 ps in a fused quartz at 1064 nm.

%A Marcus, Gilad %A Pearl, Shaul %A Pasmanik, Guerman %K FUSED silica %K LIGHT -- Scattering %K OXIDE minerals %K synchronization %K TIME measurements %X Stimulated Brillouin scattering pulse compression of a 2.5 ns laser into a 175 ps pulse using a fused quartz is demonstrated without optical damage. The synchronization and the time jitter between the initial and the compressed pulses were measured (σ<80 ps) and analyzed numerically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] %B Journal of Applied Physics %V 103 %P 103105 - 4 %8 2008 %@ 00218979 %G eng %U http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aph&AN=32509907&site=eds-live %N 10 %! Journal of Applied Physics %0 Journal Article %J Journal of the Optical Society of America B %D 2007 %T Analysis of the x-ray spectrum emitted by laser-produced plasma of dysprosium %A Marcus, Gilad %A Louzon, Einat %A Henis, Zohar %A Maman, Shlomo %A Mandelbaum, Pinchas %K Spectroscopy, x-ray %B Journal of the Optical Society of America B %V 24 %P 1187 - 1192 %8 2007 %G eng %U http://josab.osa.org/abstract.cfm?URI=josab-24-5-1187 %N 5 %! J. Opt. Soc. Am. B %0 Journal Article %J Europhysics Letters %D 2006 %T

Molecular vibrational ladder climbing using a sub-nanosecond chirped laser pulse

%A Marcus, G. %A Zigler, A. %A Friedland, L. %B Europhysics Letters %V 74 %P 43 - 48 %8 2006 %@ 02955075 %G eng %U http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=edselc&AN=edselc.2-52.0-33645691269&site=eds-live %N 1 %! Europhysics Letters %0 Journal Article %J Quantum Electronics, IEEE Journal of %D 2006 %T

Amplified Spontaneous Emission in Slab Amplifiers

%A Goren, C. %A Tzuk, Y. %A Marcus, G. %A Pearl, S. %K amplified spontaneous emission %K Amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) %K inversion profile %K Monte Carlo method %K Monte Carlo methods %K population inversion %K slab amplifiers %K slab amplifiers for high-power lasers %K superradiance %X Amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) occurs in media with large gain, and affects both the magnitude and the spatial distribution of the inversion. In this work we theoretically study the effect of ASE in three-dimensional, rectangular slab amplifiers, using Monte Carlo type computer simulations. We found that in one-dimensional amplifiers ASE is always larger at the edges so that the inversion has a maxima at the center of the amplifier. However, in two- and three-dimensional amplifiers, the inversion has a minimum at the center of the amplifier for low gain, and a maximum at the center of the amplifier for high gain. Thus, the inversion profile can be changed by increasing the gain from a minimum at the center, through a plateau, to a maximum at the center. A simple analytical theory was developed and agrees with these results %B Quantum Electronics, IEEE Journal of %V 42 %P 1239 - 1247 %8 2006 %@ 0018-9197 %G eng %N 12 %! Quantum Electronics, IEEE Journal of %0 Journal Article %J Physical Review A %D 2005 %T

Autoresonant excitation and control of molecular degrees of freedom in three dimensions

%A Marcus, Gilad %A Friedland, Lazar %A Zigler, Arie %X A classical, three-dimensional analysis of excitation and control of vibrational-rotational degrees of freedom of a polar diatomic molecule by chirped laser field is presented. The control strategy is based on autoresonance (adiabatic nonlinear synchronization) phenomenon, in which the molecule automatically adjusts its state for staying in a persistent resonance with the laser field despite variation of the laser frequency. Thresholds on driving field amplitudes for entering the autoresonant excitation regime by passage through different resonances are calculated. In autoresonance, the molecule can be excited to large energies and approach the dissociation limit by substantially weaker laser fields than with constant-frequency drives. %B Physical Review A %V 72 %8 2005 %G eng %U http://link.aps.org/doi/10.1103/PhysRevA.72.033404 %N 3 %! Phys. Rev. A %0 Journal Article %J JOURNAL OF THE OPTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA B-OPTICAL PHYSICS %D 2005 %T

Generation of a high-energy ultrawideband chirped source in periodically poled LiTaO3

%A Marcus, G. %A Zigler, A. %A Eger, D. %A Bruner, A. %A Englander, A. %K LIGHT %K Optics %K PULSES %X A method for generation of a chirped, ultrawideband infrared source by use of optical parametric generation in periodically poled crystals and pumped by a chirped Ti:sapphire laser is described. A similar to35% bandwidth in the idler branch was demonstrated in a periodically poled LiTaO3 crystal pumped by a chirped Ti:sapphire laser with 2.1% bandwidth. Optical parametric generation and optical parametric amplification configuration allowed us to generate up to a similar to250-muJ chirped pulse from 2.1 to 3 mum. (C) 2005 Optical Society of America. %B JOURNAL OF THE OPTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA B-OPTICAL PHYSICS %V 22 %P 620 - 622 %8 2005 %@ 0740-3224 %G eng %N 3 %! J. Opt. Soc. Am. B-Opt. Phys. %0 Journal Article %J Physical Review A %D 2004 %T

From quantum ladder climbing to classical autoresonance

%A Marcus, G. %A Friedland, L. %A Zigler, A. %X The autoresonance phenomenon allows excitation of a classical, oscillatory nonlinear system to high energies by using a weak, chirped frequency forcing. Ladder climbing is its counterpart in quantum mechanics. Here, for the first time to our knowledge, conditions for the transition from the quantum to the classical regimes are outlined. The similarities and differences between the two approaches are presented. %B Physical Review A %V 69 %8 2004 %G eng %U http://link.aps.org/doi/10.1103/PhysRevA.69.013407 %N 1 %! Phys. Rev. A %0 Journal Article %J Journal of Applied Physics %D 2003 %T High-current capillary discharge with prepulse ablative plasma. %A Levin, M. %A Marcus, G. %A Pukhov, A. %A Zigler, A. %A Sasorov, P. %K ELECTRONS %K PHYSICS %X Generation of axisymmetric stable, long plasma channels with temperatures of 8 eV and electron densities ∼ 10[sup 19] cm[sup -3] by a high-current evaporating-wall capillary discharge with prepulse ablative plasma is reported. Results of spectroscopic measurements of the temperature and electron density of plasma produced in a polyethylene capillary are presented. The discharge provides a convenient source of dense highly ionized plasmas for laser-plasma interaction studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] %B Journal of Applied Physics %V 93 %8 2003 %@ 00218979 %G eng %U http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aph&AN=8781415&site=eds-live %N 2 %! Journal of Applied Physics %0 Journal Article %J Applied Physics Letters %D 2003 %T

Generation of ultrawide-band chirped sources in the infrared through parametric interactions in periodically poled crystals

%A Marcus, G. %A Zigler, A. %A Englander, A. %A Katz, M. %A Ehrlich, Y. %X A method to generate chirped ultrawide-band sources with a chirp bandwidth of about 50% in the infrared is described and experimentally verified. It is based on optical parametric generation in periodically poled crystals with a chirped Ti:sapphire as a pump source. We have demonstrated a 27% wide bandwidth in the signal branch and 45% bandwidth in the idler branch when a periodically poled KTP crystal was pumped by a chirped Ti:sapphire laser with 12 nm full width at half maximum bandwidth. © 2003 American Institute of Physics. %B Applied Physics Letters %V 82 %P 164 - 166 %8 2003 %@ 00036951 %G eng %U http://apl.aip.org/resource/1/applab/v82/i2/p164_s1 %N 2 %0 Journal Article %J JOURNAL OF THE OPTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA B-OPTICAL PHYSICS %D 1999 %T

Third-harmonic generation at a atmospheric pressure in methane by use of intense femtosecond pulses in the tight-focusing limit

%A Marcus, G. %A Zigler, A. %A Henis, Z. %K 2-LEVEL ATOM %K 3RD-HARMONIC GENERATION %K AIR %K BARRIER SUPPRESSION %K CONVERSION %K FIELD %K IONIZATION %K LASER-PULSES %K Optics %K RADIATION %K RARE-GASES %X An experimental study of third-harmonic generation in methane with a 100-fs, 820-nm, Ti:sapphire laser in a tight focusing geometry is presented. The harmonic intensity and bandwidth were measured in a range of intensities extending from below to far above the first ionization threshold and at pressures as high as 10 atm (1 atm = 760 Torr). The harmonic signal follows a power-law dependence on laser intensity with an exponent of similar to 7 and saturates at an intensity I-s similar to 4 x 10(14) W/cm(2). The conversion efficiency was found to increase with the pressure for laser intensities smaller than the saturation intensity I-s and to decrease with the pressure at larger intensities. At laser intensities larger than the saturation intensity a substantial modification in the third-harmonic bandwidth and structure was observed. (C) 1999 Optical Society of America [S0740-3224(99)00905-4]. %B JOURNAL OF THE OPTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA B-OPTICAL PHYSICS %V 16 %P 792 - 800 %8 1999 %@ 0740-3224 %G eng %N 5 %! J. Opt. Soc. Am. B-Opt. Phys.