Single-shot nanosecond-resolution multiframe passive imaging by multiplexed structured image capture

The Multiplexed Structured Image Capture (MUSIC) technique is used to demonstrate single-shot multiframe passive imaging, with a nanosecond difference between the resulting images. This technique uses modulation of light from a scene before imaging, in order to encode the target’s temporal evolution into spatial frequency shifts, each of which corresponds to a unique time and results in individual and distinct snapshots. The resulting images correspond to different effective imaging gate times, because of the optical path delays. Computer processing of the multiplexed single-shot image recovers the nanosecond-resolution evolution. The MUSIC technique is used to demonstrate imaging of a laser-induced plasma. Simultaneous single-shot measurements of electron numbers by coherent microwave scattering were obtained and showed good agreement with MUSIC characterization. The MUSIC technique demonstrates spatial modulation of images used for passive imaging. This allows multiple frames to be stacked into a single image. This method could also pave the way for real-time imaging and characterization of ultrafast processes and visualization, as well as general tracking of fast objects

Main Elements of Logistics

Virtually lossless self-compression of 10-mJ 3.9-um sub-100 fs pulses in bulk YAG resulting in 9-mJ 33-fs pulses is reported. Generated peak power exceeds 250 GW which is suitable for filamentation in ambient air

Valley Polarization-Electric Dipole Interference and Nonlinear Chiral Selection Rules in Monolayer WSe2_2

In monolayer transition metal dichalcogenides time-reversal symmetry, combined with space-inversion symmetry, defines the spin-valley degree of freedom. As such, engineering and control of time-reversal symmetry by optical or magnetic fields constitutes the foundation of valleytronics. Here, we propose a new approach for the detection of broken time-reversal symmetry and valley polarization in monolayer WSe$_2$ based on second harmonic generation. Our method can selectively and simultaneously generate and detect a valley polarization at the $\pm K$ valleys of transition metal dichalcogenides at room temperature. Furthermore, it allows to measure the interference between the real and imaginary parts of the intrinsic (electric dipole) and valley terms of the second order nonlinear susceptibility. This work demonstrates the potential and unique capabilities of nonlinear optics as a probe of broken time-reversal symmetry and as a tool for ultrafast and non-destructive valleytronic operations.Comment: 27 pages 6 figure

Laser-sub-cycle two-dimensional electron momentum mapping using orthogonal two-color fields

The two-dimensional sub-cycle-time to electron momentum mapping provided by orthogonal two-color laser fields is applied to photoelectron spectroscopy. Using neon as the example we gain experimental access to the dynamics of emitted electron wave packets in electron momenta spectra measured by coincidence momentum imaging. We demonstrate the opportunities provided by this time-to-momentum mapping by investigating the influence of the parent ion on the emitted electrons on laser-sub-cycle times. It is found that depending on their sub-cycle birth time the trajectories of photoelectrons are affected differently by the ion's Coulomb field

Unveiling the Role of Electron-Phonon Scattering in Dephasing High-Order Harmonics in Solids

High-order harmonic generation (HHG) in solids is profoundly influenced by the dephasing of the coherent electron-hole motion driven by an external laser field. The exact physical mechanisms underlying this dephasing, crucial for accurately understanding and modelling HHG spectra, have remained elusive and controversial, often regarded more as an empirical observation than a firmly established principle. In this work, we present comprehensive experimental findings on the wavelength-dependency of HHG in both single-atomic-layer and bulk semiconductors. These findings are further corroborated by rigorous numerical simulations, employing ab initio real-time, real-space time-dependent density functional theory and semiconductor Bloch equations. Our experimental observations necessitate the introduction of a novel concept: a momentum-dependent dephasing time in HHG. Through detailed analysis, we pinpoint momentum-dependent electron-phonon scattering as the predominant mechanism driving dephasing. This insight significantly advances the understanding of dephasing phenomena in solids, addressing a long-standing debate in the field. Furthermore, our findings pave the way for a novel, all-optical measurement technique to determine electron-phonon scattering rates and establish fundamental limits to the efficiency of HHG in condensed matter

Low-energy peak structure in strong-field ionization by mid-infrared laser-pulses: two-dimensional focusing by the atomic potential

We analyze the formation of the low-energy structure (LES) in above-threshold ionization spectra first observed by Quan et al.\ \cite{quan09} and Blaga et al.\ \cite{blaga09} using both quasi-classical and quantum approaches. We show this structure to be largely classical in origin resulting from a two-dimensional focusing in the energy-angular momentum plane of the strong-field dynamics in the presence of the atomic potential. The peak at low energy is strongly correlated with high angular momenta of the photoelectrons. Quantum simulations confirm this scenario. Resulting parameter dependences agree with experimental findings \cite{quan09,blaga09} and, in part, with other simulations \cite{liu10,yan10,kast11}.Comment: 12 pages, 6 figure