Characterizing the spatial properties of high harmonic generation

This thesis is concerned with describing a novel technique for characterizing the (spectrally resolved) spatial properties of light. The new approach, known as Scanning Interference Method for Integrated Transverse Analysis of Radiation (SCIMITAR), is a specific implementation of a variable-separation two-pinhole interferometer. Evaluation of the series of interference patterns produced by a SCIMITAR measurement allows the transverse profiles of intensity and spatial phase to be retrieved, while at the same time characterizing the spatial coherence of light. Including a diffraction grating in the simple experimental arrangement permits the spectral dependence of the aforementioned quantities to be measured. The SCIMITAR technique was demonstrated by characterizing the spatial properties of high harmonic generation (HHG). Excellent agreement with an alternate characterization technique known as SWORD was observed. The spectral dependence of the harmonic spatial properties was also investigated. Evidence suggesting absorption may play a role in shaping the harmonic intensity and spatial coherence was presented. Treating the harmonic radiation as either a fully coherent or partially coherent beam allowed the intensity width, spatial phase curvature and coherence width of the harmonic radiation source to be deduced. Measurement of the fine variation of the harmonic complex coherence factor (CCF) with pinhole separation revealed distinctive modulations. The Van Cittert-Zernike theorem was modified by including a Gerchberg-Saxton inspired improvement, allowing data missing from the SCIMITAR measurement to be inferred. The harmonic equivalent incoherent source intensity profile was found to be asymmetric with low intensity features isolated away from the optical axis. Calculations of the diffraction pattern produced by illumination of a non-redundant array of pinholes showed that the modulated harmonic properties could adversely influence lensless imaging-type experiments.This thesis is not currently available in OR