Abstract
In this paper, we experimentally observed generation of the second and the third optical harmonics and the broadband terahertz radiation in the course of 800 nm 120 fs pulse in atmospheric air. The analysis of their polarization properties revealed unity of their nonlinear optical nature. Taking into account only the third-order nonlinear response of the neutral molecules of air, we analytically described the newly generated elliptically polarized 3d harmonic, the linear polarization of terahertz radiation and the stability of terahertz energy yield for the initial circularly polarized ω pump pulse.
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Mikhail Esaulkov has received his M.Sc. degree in Physics at Moscow Institute for Physics and Technology in 2010. Since 2007, he has been a member of the group led by Prof. Alexander Shkurinov at the Department of Physics at M. V. Lomonosov Moscow State University. His research area and Ph.D. thesis are related to the processes of generation and detection of THz radiation in the gaseous media and plasma of optical breakdown. His research interests are nonlinear optics, surface physics, generation of THz radiation in gases and thin films, and polarization of the THz radiation. He published 5 papers in peerreviewed scientific journals and 6 papers in conference proceedings.
Olga Kosareva — Ph.D. (1995, Lomonosov Moscow State University (MSU)), Doctor of Physics and Math Sciences (Habilitation) (2013, Lomonosov MSU), Associate Professor with the Department of Physics and International Laser Center of Lomonosov MSU. Since 1992, she has worked on the theory and simulations of ultrashort high intense laser pulse propagation in gases and transparent solids. In collaboration with Prof. See Leang Chin (Laval University, Quebec, Canada), she pioneered the world-leading research in femtosecond laser pulse filamentation and was the first one to theoretically explain and simulate spatiotemporal pulse transformation and conical emission accompanying filamentation in air (1996–2000). She continued with optimization of transport and positioning of multiple filaments on a long-range atmospheric path (2000–2006). Since 2006, she has been the leader of the research projects on filamentation nonlinear optics using terawatt Ti:Sapphire laser facility of the Center for Collective Usage of the International Laser Center of MSU. Since 2010, she has worked on the sources of THz radiation from single- and dual-color filaments. In collaboration with Prof. Xi-Cheng Zhang’s (University of Rochester) and Prof. Shkurinov’s (Lomonosov MSU) groups, she defined the frequency-dependent contribution to the broadband spectrum of terahertz radiation of the free carriers and neutrals from the partially ionized filament core in gases.
Now Olga Kosareva is one of the leading world-known scientists in the field of pulse propagation and filamentation, she published 79 papers in peer-reviewed scientific journals and 88 papers in conference proceedings, she was invited to deliver more than 40 invited lectures and talks, organizes annually well-recognized international conferences (Laser Physics Workshop, ICONO/LAT, COFIL). Since 2002, she is Faculty Advisor of MSU SPIE Student Chapter (about 30 students).
Her honors and awards include: Dynasty Foundation award for Doctors of Sciences (2014), the Rector of Lomonosov MSU award for the annual organization of Science Festivals at MSU (2013), the Rector of Lomonosov MSU award for the series of publications on femtosecond laser pulse filamentation in gases (2009), Diploma with honor from the Department of Physics of MSU (1992).
Vladimir Makarov is a Doctor of Science, Professor of Physics, the Head of Chair of General Physics and Wave Processes in the Department of Physics and the Director of International Laser Center in M. V. Lomonosov Moscow State University. He received his M.S., Ph.D. and Dr. Sci. degrees in Physics from the same University. Vladimir Makarov’s current research interests are in the field of laser physics, nonlinear optics and spectroscopy, interaction of laser radiation with matter, laser applications in life sciences. He is an author of more than 170 refereed scientific publications including some books. Full list of publications comprises more than 350 titles of papers published in journals and conference proceedings since 1977. He serves as an editorial board member for some scientific journals. Over more than two decades, he also served as a Program Committee and International Advisory Board member for many International Conferences and Symposia (ICONO/LAT, LASPHYS, LALS, etc). Vladimir Makarov was awarded the Russian President Prize (in the field of education) in 2005 and Lomonosov Prize of Moscow State University for science in 2006 (the highest award for scientists in Moscow State University). He received Government Award “Medal for Services in the Face of Motherland” in 2005.
Nikolay Panov — Ph.D. (2009, Lomonosov Moscow State University (MSU)), Research Scientist with the International Laser Center of Lomonosov MSU. Since 2004, he has worked on the simulations of laser beam propagation in both regular and randomly-inhomogeneous media. He performed the optimization of the three-dimensional plus time numerical algorithm and the code for simulating nonstationary multiple filament formation in air. Based on this code, the Monte-Carlo simulations of femtosecond light filamentation in atmospheric turbulence were performed on both horizontal and vertical atmospheric path with the pressure gradient. Since 2009, Nikolay Panov developed the vectorial approach for the description of the polarization rotation of the probe pulse co-propagating with a high-peak power pump pulse creating a filament in gases. This approach was successfully extended to the general four-wave mixing case and allowed to efficiently follow the polarization of a newly born terahertz radiation due to the nonlinear ω-2ω pulse interaction in the filament.
Since 2012, Nikolay Panov has been a project leader according to the special program for young scientists and has headed the study of the terahertz frequency-angular spectrum irradiated from femtosecond optical breakdown or filament in gases. Nikolay Panov has 32 journal publications and 53 publications in conference proceedings. His honors and awards include: Dynasty Foundation award for young researches with Ph.D. degree (2012), the Rector of Lomonosov MSU award for the series of publications (2012), SPIE Scholarship (2005).
Alexander Shkurinov — Ph.D. (1988, Lomonosov Moscow State University (MSU)), Doctor of Physics and Math Sciences (Habilitation) (2013, Lomonosov MSU), Professor with the Department of Physics and International Laser Center of Lomonosov MSU, Head of the Laboratory of Terahertz Optoelectronics and Spectroscopy at MSU. Alexander Shkurinov is a leading world-recognized scientist in the field of terahertz spectroscopy. In the years 1985–1990, he worked under the direct supervision of the pioneer of the nonlinear optics, Prof. S. A. Akhmanov. Alexander Shkurinov’s research interests are in the applications of pico- and femtosecond laser techniques for time-resolved spectroscopy of various objects including complex molecules. Alexander Shkurinov was the first one to experimentally develop and apply Coherent Antistokes Raman Spectroscopy (CARS) technique to the study of biological molecules. He was the first one to experimentally observe and explain theoretically the fourth-order optical nonlinearity due to molecular chirality. Alexander Shkurinov pioneered the development of time-domain spectroscopy technique using terahertz radiation. Currently he is one of the leading scientist in this research field. Alexander Shkurinov published more than 150 papers in peer-reviewed scientific journals, was invited to deliver more than 60 invited lectures and talks, organizes annually well-recognized international conferences (TERA, LALS) and is in the committees of seven other international scientific meetings. Alexander Shkurinov leads 5 permanent staff members and 17 postdoctoral researchers, Ph.D. students and undergraduates.
His previous positions, awards and honors include: The Russian Optical Society award, the Medal in honor of Prof. Rozhdestvensky, for the contribution into the development of optical science and technology (2008), Invited professor of the University of Littoral, Dunkerque, FRANCE (1996–2000), Research fellow of the University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands (1995–1996), Invited Professor of the University Bordeaux I, Bordeaux, FRANCE (1993), Diploma with honor from the Department of Physics of MSU (1985).
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Esaulkov, M., Kosareva, O., Makarov, V. et al. Simultaneous generation of nonlinear optical harmonics and terahertz radiation in air: polarization discrimination of various nonlinear contributions. Front. Optoelectron. 8, 73–80 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12200-014-0443-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12200-014-0443-1