Linking Attosecond Science in Gases and Solids

1988年，Anne l'Huillier博士首次观测到电离气体的高谐波辐射，这一观测标志着极端非线性光学的开始。在接下来的5年里，我介绍了这门新科学的主要特点，包括如何产生和测量世界上最短的脉冲，我还描述了如何利用高谐波产生来探测电子来自的量子系统。2011年，吉米尔博士首次从透明固体中观察到高谐波辐射。这一观测标志着极端非线性光学新阶段的开始。我的小组与Brabec小组合作，引入了固体中极端非线性光学的第一个理论，并通过实验证实了这一理论，开启了大量的研究。****令固态物理学家和光子学科学家惊讶的是，固体和气体之间的联系是密切的。正是这种联系使这项发现提案得名。****气体中强电场驱动非线性的一个独特方面是自探测。为了掌握在固体中进行自我探测的技术，我们申请了（并获得了）专利。本提案专注于自探测（或成像），我们强调成像的四个方面，包括：****传感（特别是传感功能电子电路中的电场），从而拍摄复杂电路的操作。随着高谐波波长达到10纳米，以及一项可以扩展到阿秒帧速度的技术，我们拥有了现代电子设备的时间分辨率和空间分辨率。****成像生物材料（一种极端形式的多光子显微镜）。细胞物质是不均匀的，这种不均匀性将被编码在谐波频谱中。因此，我们有可能用细胞器的空间分辨率和每个像素包含生成它的材料的详细结构信息来对生物材料进行成像。（对细胞的三维结构或功能电子电路的动态进行成像具有非常重要的技术潜力。）****确定材料的晶格或电子结构，从而在时间上分辨相变。在高谐波产生过程中，电子离开其局部环境，并被基束的电场拉过邻近的位置。高谐波发射谱报告了这一轨迹，打开了一扇窗口，通过它我们可以了解固体中的电子和晶格结构。****从事自探测的博士和pdf学生将学习超快光学，高真空系统，计算机接口，同时与国际合作者合作。他们还将获得在主要会议上讲授固态物理新兴领域的经验。当他们毕业时，他们将在学术界加强和扩大加拿大的神经科学，并帮助将其推向工业和医疗应用。******

In 1988 Dr. Anne l'Huillier observed the first high-harmonic radiation from an ionizing gas an observation that marked the beginning of extreme nonlinear optics. During the following 5-years, I introduced the major features of this new science, including how to produce and measure the world's shortest pulses, and I described how high harmonic generation could be used to probe the quantum system from which the electron came. In 2011, Dr. S. Ghimire observed the first high-harmonic radiation from transparent solids. This observation marked the beginning of a new phase of extreme nonlinear optics. My group, in collaboration with the Brabec group, introduce the first theory of extreme nonlinear optics in solids and confirmed it experimentally, opening a flood of research.**** To the surprise of solid-state physicists and photonics scientists, the link between solids and gases is close. It is this link that gives this discovery proposal its name.**** One of the unique aspects of strong electric-field-driven nonlinearities in gases is self-probing. To capture the technologically of self-probing in solids, we applied for (and received) patents. This proposal concentrates on self-probing (or imaging) and we emphasise four aspects of imaging including:**** Sensing (specifically sensing electric fields in functioning electronic circuits) and thereby filming the operation of complex circuits. With high harmonic wavelengths reaching 10s of nanometers and a technology that could be extended to attosecond framing speeds, we have the time resolution and spatial resolution for modern electronics.**** Imaging biological material (an extreme form of multiphoton microscopy). Cellular material is heterogeneous and that heterogeneity will be encoded in the harmonic spectrum. Thus, we have the potential to image biological material with a spatial resolution of organelles and with each pixel containing detailed structural information on the material in which it is generated. (Imaging the 3-D structure of a cell or the dynamics of a functioning electronic circuit has very important technological potential.)**** Determining lattice or electronic-structure of materials and thereby time resolving phase changes. During high-harmonic generation an electron leaves its local environment and is pulled by the electric field of the fundamental beam through neighbouring sites. The high-harmonic emission spectrum reports on this trajectory, opening a window through which we can learn about electronic and lattice structure in solids.**** PhD and pdf students who work on self-probing will learn about ultrafast optics, high vacuum systems, computer interfacing, while working with international collaborators. They will also gain experience lecturing at major conferences about an emerging area of solid state physics. As they graduate, they will strengthen and broaden Canadian atto-science in academia, and help move it towards industrial and medical applications.******