Abstract

Parametric amplification of ultrashort optical pulses has recently emerged as key enabling technology, e.g., for the realization of bright coherent tabletop high-harmonic sources in the water-window and keV X-ray region [1] and for the control of strongly correlated electron systems using mid-IR pulses and strong THz transients [2]. In particular, the coherent synthesis of sub-optical-cycle waveforms E(t) from separate parametric amplifiers [3] covering different spectral regions has attracted enormous attention. Intense sub-cycle waveforms open the door to the new research field Waveform Nonlinear Optics, which aims to study and control the nonlinear interactions of matter with extremely short optical waveforms custom-tailored within a cycle of light. Many new applications arise in attoscience and strong-field physics [4]. In this talk, we discuss the underlying physics, challenges and fascinating opportunities of high-energy sub-cycle parametric waveform synthesizers.

© 2014 Japan Society of Applied Physics, Optical Society of America