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Subwavelength population density gratings in resonant medium created by few-cycle pulses
We consider theoretically recently proposed a new possibility of creation, erasing and ultrafast control of population density grating. Such grating can be created in resonant medium when ultrashort pulses with duration smaller than relaxation times in the resonant medium (coherent light matter interactions) propagate without overlapping in this medium. Possible applications in the ultrafast optics such as optical switcher and laser beam deflector are discussed.
Population density gratings induced by few-cycle optical pulses in a resonant medium
Creation, erasing and ultrafast control of population density gratings using few-cycle optical pulses coherently interacting with resonant medium is discussed. In contrast to the commonly used schemes, here the pulses do not need to overlap in the medium, interaction between the pulses is mediated by excitation of polarization waves. We investigate the details of the dynamics arising in such ultrashort pulse scheme and develop an analytical theory demonstrating the importance of the phase memory effects in the dynamics.
Unusual terahertz waveforms from a resonant medium controlled by diffractive optical elements
Up to now, full tunability of waveforms was possible only in electronics, up to radio-frequencies. Here we propose a new concept of producing few-cycle terahertz (THz) pulses with widely tunable waveforms. It is based on control of the phase delay between different parts of the THz wavefront using linear diffractive optical elements. Suitable subcycle THz wavefronts can be generated via coherent excitation of nonlinear low-frequency oscillators by few-cycle optical pulses. Using this approach it is possible to shape the electric field rather than the slow pulse envelope, obtaining, for instance, rectangular or triangular waveforms in the THz range. The method is upscalable to the optical range if the attosecond pump pulses are used.