Vacuum ultraviolet and terahertz pulse generation in bulk media and guided geometries based on plasma generating femtosecond light pulses

• Applicant: Dr. Ihar Babushkin
• Subject Area: Optics, Quantum Optics and Physics of Atoms, Molecules and Plasmas
• Term: from 2010 to 2014
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 169972743

The project is devoted to novel methods of ultra-short few-cycle intense pulse generation in the terahertz (THz) as well as in the vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) range mediated by light-induced plasma dynamics. We intend to develop a unifying modelling framework with inclusion of spatio-temporal propagation dynamics for the whole frequency range based on the forward Maxwell equations. In a strong connection with experimental activities at the Max Born Institute, we plan to carry out a detailed theoretical study of the pulse propagation dynamics in guided geometries, in selfguided light-induced filaments and in the case of strong focusing in plasma-generating hot-spots. The use of forward Maxwell equations allows us, together with careful modelling of ionization processes and plasma response, to describe high-intense light propagation without the usual constraints of a slowly-varying envelope model. Thus, accurate modelling of, e.g., THz radiation from plasma spots or hollow waveguides and VUV pulse generation in self-compressed optical filaments as well as in non-collinear laser beams will be considered in a single unifying theoretical framework.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants