Abstract

High-harmonic generation (HHG) from solid targets driven by ultra-high-intensity lasers is predicted to be a source of attosecond XUV pulses with shorter wavelengths and higher energies than those currently generated in gases [1,2]. A much less explored regime consists in focusing few-cycle pulses down to wavelength-limited spot sizes in order to reach the ultrahigh intensities using mJ pulse energies. This enables HHG from solid targets using waveform-controlled few-cycle pulses readily obtainable from compact kHz laser systems. Here, we show the first experimental demonstration of HHG from solid targets using intense CEP-controlled two-cycle laser pulses.

© 2011 Optical Society of America