Ultrafast mid-infrared high harmonic and supercontinuum generation with n characterization in zinc selenide

Polycrystalline ZnSe is an exciting source of broadband supercontinuum and high-harmonic generation via random quasi phase matching, exhibiting broad transparency in the mid-infrared (0.5-20 μm). In this work, the effects of wavelength, pulse power, intensity, propagation length, and crystallinity on supercontinuum and high harmonic generation are investigated experimentally using ultrafast mid-infrared pulses. Observed harmonic conversion efficiency scales linearly in propagation length, reaching as high as 36%. For the first time to our knowledge, n2 is measured for mid-infrared wavelengths in ZnSe: n2(λ=3.9 μm)=(1.2±0.3)×10-14 cm2/W. Measured n2 is applied to simulations modeling high-harmonic generation in polycrystalline ZnSe as an effective medium.SURVICE [S17-095008/DOTC-17-01-INIT0086]; Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR) [FA9550-16-1-0069]; AFOSR multidisciplinary research program of the university research initiative (MURI) [FA9550-16-1-0013]; AFOSR [FA9550-16-1-0121, FA9550-16-1-0088]Open access journal.This item from the UA Faculty Publications collection is made available by the University of Arizona with support from the University of Arizona Libraries. If you have questions, please contact us at repository@u.library.arizona.edu