Spatial polarization gating of high-harmonic generation in solids
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: High-harmonic generation from solids can be utilized as a probe of ultrafast dynamics, but thus far only over extended sample areas, since its spatial resolution is diffraction limited. Here, we propose spatial polarization gating, that is, using a spatially varying ellipticity of a driving laser pulse to reduce the spatial profile of high-harmonic emission below the diffraction limit and hence increase spatial resolution. We show experimentally and by numerical simulations that our method is generally applicable as suppressing high harmonics in elliptical fields is a common response in all solids. We also briefly explore the possibility of applying this technique to wide-field imaging, specifically to nonlinear structured illumination microscopy. Our findings indicate that spatial polarization gating can enable all-optical femto-to-attosecond label-free imaging beyond the Abbe limit.
Source: Physical Review Research
Language: English
Subfield: Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,625
Funders: Comunidad de Madrid, European Commission, Universiteit van Amsterdam, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek, Ministerie van Economische Zaken en Klimaat, Fundación Bancaria Caixa d'Estalvis i Pensions de Barcelona, HORIZON EUROPE Framework Programme, Agencia Estatal de Investigación, Topconsortium voor Kennis en Innovatie
Awards: G1255325603, G2262748287, G2531763, G3480869486, G3681454997, G4042783231, G4128085454, G425668148, G4442677895, G4526231891, G5132640529, G5178665745, G5206164482, High-harmonic metrology of ultrafast correlated electron dynamics (HIMALAYA), G5543625154, G6314331178, G7084143925, G7434936867, G7685134749, G7731791180, G852602190, G8543749217
OpenAlex ID: W4408331754