Controlling the bandwidth of high harmonic emission peaks with the spectral polarization of the driver.

Abstract

We demonstrate a high harmonic-generation scheme that offers control over the bandwidth of the spectral peaks. The scheme uses a vectorial two-color driver with close central frequencies, generated by spectrally splitting a linearly polarized input femtosecond-duration laser pulse and subsequently recombining the two halves after their polarizations are made cross-elliptical and counter-rotating. This results in the generation of new emission channels that coalesce into broad odd-integer HHG peaks, the bandwidth of each being proportional to the frequency difference between the two colors, to the harmonic order and inversely proportional to the driver fields' ellipticities. Peak broadening to the extent that a supercontinuum is formed is also demonstrated. This source will find use in HHG applications benefiting from high-flux broadband extreme ultraviolet radiation, such as attosecond transient absorption spectroscopy.