Publications

2016
Deng, Y., et al. Ultrafast Excitation of an Inner-Shell Electron by Laser-Induced Electron Recollision. Phys. Rev. Lett. 116, 073901 (2016). Publisher's VersionAbstract

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.

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2015
Deng, Y., et al. Direct evidences for inner-shell electron-excitation by laser induced electron recollision. arxiv 1509.05361 (2015). Publisher's VersionAbstract

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.

Rosenthal, N. & Marcus, G. Discriminating between the role of phase matching and that of the single-atom response in resonance plasma-plume high harmonic generation. Phys. Rev. Lett. 115, 133901 (2015). Publisher's VersionAbstract

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.

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Korenfeld, A., et al. High pulse energy passive Q-switching of a diode-pumped Tm:YLF laser by Cr:ZnSe. Laser Physics Letters 12, 045804 (2015). Publisher's VersionAbstract
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.
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2012
Znakovskaya, I., et al. Subcycle Controlled Charge-Directed Reactivity with Few-Cycle Midinfrared Pulses. Physical Review Letters 108, 6, (2012). Publisher's VersionAbstract
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.
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Deng, Y., et al. Carrier-envelope-phase-stable, 1.2mJ, 1.5 cycle laser pulses at 2.1μm. Optics Letters 37, 23, 4973 - 4975 (2012). Publisher's VersionAbstract

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.

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Marcus, G., et al. Subfemtosecond K-Shell Excitation with a Few-Cycle Infrared Laser Field. Physical Review Letters 108, 2, 023201 (2012). Publisher's VersionAbstract

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.

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2010
Dou, T.H., et al. Dispersion control with reflection grisms of an ultra-broadband spectrum approaching a full octave. Optics Express 18, 26, 27900 - 27909 (2010). Publisher's VersionAbstract
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.
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2009
Gu, X., et al. Generation of carrier-envelope-phase-stable 2-cycle 740-uJ pulses at 2.1-um carrier wavelength. Optics Express 17, 1, 62 - 69 (2009). Publisher's VersionAbstract
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.
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Marcus, G. & Tsori, Y. Phase Separation Transition in Liquids and Polymers Induced by Electric Field Gradients. Journal of the Physical Society of Japan 78, (2009). Publisher's VersionAbstract
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
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Shwa, D., Eisenmann, S., Marcus, G. & Zigler, A. Using the self-filtering property of a femtosecond filament to improve second harmonic generation. Optics Express 17, 8, 6451 - 6456 (2009). Publisher's VersionAbstract
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.
2008
Marcus, G., Samin, S. & Tsori, Y. Phase-separation transition in liquid mixtures near curved charged objects. Journal of Chemical Physics 129, 6, 061101 - 4 (2008). Publisher's VersionAbstract
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]
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Marcus, G., Pearl, S. & Pasmanik, G. Stimulated Brillouin scattering pulse compression to 175 ps in a fused quartz at 1064 nm. Journal of Applied Physics 103, 10, 103105 - 4 (2008). Publisher's VersionAbstract
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]
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2007
Marcus, G., Louzon, E., Henis, Z., Maman, S. & Mandelbaum, P. Analysis of the x-ray spectrum emitted by laser-produced plasma of dysprosium. Journal of the Optical Society of America B 24, 5, 1187 - 1192 (2007). Publisher's Version
2006
Marcus, G., Zigler, A. & Friedland, L. Molecular vibrational ladder climbing using a sub-nanosecond chirped laser pulse. Europhysics Letters 74, 1, 43 - 48 (2006). Publisher's Version Full text.pdf
Goren, C., Tzuk, Y., Marcus, G. & Pearl, S. Amplified Spontaneous Emission in Slab Amplifiers. Quantum Electronics, IEEE Journal of 42, 12, 1239 - 1247 (2006).Abstract
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
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2005
Marcus, G., Friedland, L. & Zigler, A. Autoresonant excitation and control of molecular degrees of freedom in three dimensions. Physical Review A 72, 3, (2005). Publisher's VersionAbstract
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.
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Marcus, G., Zigler, A., Eger, D., Bruner, A. & Englander, A. Generation of a high-energy ultrawideband chirped source in periodically poled LiTaO3. JOURNAL OF THE OPTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA B-OPTICAL PHYSICS 22, 3, 620 - 622 (2005).Abstract
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.
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2004
Marcus, G., Friedland, L. & Zigler, A. From quantum ladder climbing to classical autoresonance. Physical Review A 69, 1, (2004). Publisher's VersionAbstract
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.
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