Abstract

In the high harmonic generation process in an atomic gas with short laser pulses the plasma density and related phase matching effects are known to affect the spatial profile.¹ They must also influence the temporal profile of this harmonic generation. Indeed it has been suggested to use these effects to squeeze the high harmonic pulse to a duration of 2 to 3 fs.² However, because of the large bandwidth and short wavelength, there was no method to measure fee duration of these pulses. The subject of this talk is to present such a method.

© 1996 Optical Society of America