An intense, few-cycle source in the long-wave infrared

• Published in: Scientific reports Vol. 9; no. 1; p. 6002
• Main Authors: Wilson, Derrek J., Summers, Adam M., Zigo, Stefan, Davis, Brandin, Robatjazi, Seyyed-Javad, Powell, Jeffery A., Rolles, Daniel, Rudenko, Artem, Trallero-Herrero, Carlos A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 12.04.2019; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: 140/125; 639/624/1020/1095; 639/624/400/385; 639/624/400/584; 639/766/36/1121; Atomic and molecular interactions with photons; Electric fields; Humanities and Social Sciences; Ionization; Laboratories; Lasers; multidisciplinary; Nonlinear optics; Physics; PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS; Science; Science & Technology - Other Topics; Science (multidisciplinary); Ultrafast lasers; Ultrafast photonics; Wavelength; Xenon
• ISSN: 2045-2322; 2045-2322
• DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-42433-1

For the last several decades, the wavelength range accessible for strong-field, few-cycle studies has remained limited to the visible, near infrared and mid-wave infrared regimes. In particular, sources in the long-wave infrared have been lacking. We report the development of a 1 kHz, few-cycle laser source with up to a 9  μ m central wavelength and gigawatt peak powers. When focused, this source can ionize gas targets, which we demonstrate here through the ionization of atomic xenon at wavelengths ranging from 5  μ m to 9  μ m. This opens up new opportunities for fundamental atomic and molecular physics, enabling experimental tests of strong-field ionization theories in the extreme long-wavelength, few-cycle limit and the direct excitation of vibrational transitions in organic molecules.