Unveiling nonlinear regimes of light amplification in fused silica with femtosecond imaging spectroscopy

We observe and characterize two nonlinear light-amplification regimes with unique spectral properties and fluence dependencies in laser-excited fused silica using ultrafast pump-probe imaging spectroscopy. The two underlying mechanisms are switchable within 150 fs via the time delay between an inten...

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Main Authors: Thomas Winkler, Peter Balling, Bastian Zielinski, Cristian Sarpe, Nikolai Jelzow, Ramela Ciobotea, Arne Senftleben, Thomas Baumert
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: American Physical Society 2020-06-01
Series:Physical Review Research
Online Access:http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevResearch.2.023341
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author Thomas Winkler
Peter Balling
Bastian Zielinski
Cristian Sarpe
Nikolai Jelzow
Ramela Ciobotea
Arne Senftleben
Thomas Baumert
author_facet Thomas Winkler
Peter Balling
Bastian Zielinski
Cristian Sarpe
Nikolai Jelzow
Ramela Ciobotea
Arne Senftleben
Thomas Baumert
author_sort Thomas Winkler
collection DOAJ
description We observe and characterize two nonlinear light-amplification regimes with unique spectral properties and fluence dependencies in laser-excited fused silica using ultrafast pump-probe imaging spectroscopy. The two underlying mechanisms are switchable within 150 fs via the time delay between an intense near-infrared femtosecond pump and an ultraviolet femtosecond probe pulse. While the earlier amplification regime is linked to the effect of laser amplification in excited dielectrics, and thus to the presence of conduction-band electrons, the latter can be directly related to the ultrafast formation of extremely long-lived self-trapped excitons. It is shown that, locally, the amplification can reach one order of magnitude. We discuss the temporal and spectral characteristics of the amplification as well as its dependencies on pump and probe fluences and form a complete picture within a tentative model.
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spelling doaj.art-a1958912c6664b9f8dda85465d5b03192024-04-12T16:55:33ZengAmerican Physical SocietyPhysical Review Research2643-15642020-06-012202334110.1103/PhysRevResearch.2.023341Unveiling nonlinear regimes of light amplification in fused silica with femtosecond imaging spectroscopyThomas WinklerPeter BallingBastian ZielinskiCristian SarpeNikolai JelzowRamela CioboteaArne SenftlebenThomas BaumertWe observe and characterize two nonlinear light-amplification regimes with unique spectral properties and fluence dependencies in laser-excited fused silica using ultrafast pump-probe imaging spectroscopy. The two underlying mechanisms are switchable within 150 fs via the time delay between an intense near-infrared femtosecond pump and an ultraviolet femtosecond probe pulse. While the earlier amplification regime is linked to the effect of laser amplification in excited dielectrics, and thus to the presence of conduction-band electrons, the latter can be directly related to the ultrafast formation of extremely long-lived self-trapped excitons. It is shown that, locally, the amplification can reach one order of magnitude. We discuss the temporal and spectral characteristics of the amplification as well as its dependencies on pump and probe fluences and form a complete picture within a tentative model.http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevResearch.2.023341
spellingShingle Thomas Winkler
Peter Balling
Bastian Zielinski
Cristian Sarpe
Nikolai Jelzow
Ramela Ciobotea
Arne Senftleben
Thomas Baumert
Unveiling nonlinear regimes of light amplification in fused silica with femtosecond imaging spectroscopy
Physical Review Research
title Unveiling nonlinear regimes of light amplification in fused silica with femtosecond imaging spectroscopy
title_full Unveiling nonlinear regimes of light amplification in fused silica with femtosecond imaging spectroscopy
title_fullStr Unveiling nonlinear regimes of light amplification in fused silica with femtosecond imaging spectroscopy
title_full_unstemmed Unveiling nonlinear regimes of light amplification in fused silica with femtosecond imaging spectroscopy
title_short Unveiling nonlinear regimes of light amplification in fused silica with femtosecond imaging spectroscopy
title_sort unveiling nonlinear regimes of light amplification in fused silica with femtosecond imaging spectroscopy
url http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevResearch.2.023341
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