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Z. Pi

Publications and source records attributed to Z. Pi.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

A precision apparatus for high harmonic spectroscopy in bulk solids

High harmonic generation (HHG) in solids has emerged as a powerful spectroscopic method for resolving ultrafast electron dynamics and band structure properties across a wide range of materials. However, quantitative HHG studies require instrumentation capable of delivering stable driving fields, precise crystal alignment, and broadband detection spanning the UV to the extreme ultraviolet (EUV). Here we present an integrated apparatus engineered specifically for high-accuracy, field-strength and orientation-dependent HHG measurements in bulk solids. The system incorporates dispersion-neutral intensity-control for few-cycle pulses, a vacuum HHG module with sub-micrometer and sub-degree sample positioning, and an imaging assembly that stabilizes the focal spot position and enables spatial filtering of the emitted harmonics. A synchronized dual-spectrometer scheme provides simultaneous UV/VUV and EUV radiation detection, while absolute electric field calibration is achieved through gas-phase attosecond streaking. Together, these capabilities establish a versatile and quantitatively reliable platform for solid-state HHG spectroscopy. The methodology is broadly adaptable to various laser sources and material classes, and supports future efforts aimed at reconstructing valence-electron potentials, tracking strong-field dynamics, and mapping electronic structure with sub-cycle temporal resolution.

physics.optics

Deciphering the dynamics of the light-induced phase transition in VO$_2$

Vanadium dioxide (VO$_2$) is central in the study of ultrafast photoinduced insulator-to-metal phase transitions in strongly correlated materials, and a primary candidate for next-generation light-driven devices. However, the physical mechanism underlying its phase transition remains unresolved. Here, we use single-cycle light transients to perform phase-resolved ultrafast spectroscopy on VO$_2$ crystals. Our experiments reveal two processes: a structural transformation from the insulating monoclinic M1-VO$_2$ phase to the excited metallic rutile R*-VO$_2$ phase, followed by electron thermalization and relaxation dynamics intrinsic to the newly formed excited metallic phase.

cond-mat.str-el

One-stage hollow-core fiber-based compression of Yb:KGW lasers to the single-cycle regime

The generation of intense, waveform-controlled, single-cycle pulses based on Yb:KGW amplifiers is central to integrating these lasers with attosecond metrology and spectroscopy. Here, we demonstrate single-stage, multi-octave (~ 2.4 octaves) spectral broadening of Yb:KGW amplified pulses in a neon-pressurized hollow-core fiber (HCF) capillary and their compression to the single-cycle regime (1.1 cycles at 880 nm) using chirped mirrors. Utilizing Homochromatic Attosecond Streaking (HAS), we characterize the field waveforms of the generated pulses and demonstrate precise control of their carrier-envelope phase. Our results provide a simplified route to single-cycle pulse generation using Yb:KGW technology, previously possible only with Ti:Sapphire-based front ends. This work paves the way for advanced applications in attosecond science, strong-field physics, and spectroscopy.

physics.optics

Carrier-envelope-phase-independent field sampling of single-cycle transients using Homochromatic Attosecond Streaking

The recent development of Homochromatic Attosecond Streaking (HAS) has enabled a novel, highly precise method for ultrafast metrology of attosecond electron pulses as well as for real-time sampling of the instantaneous field waveforms of light transients. Here, we evaluate the potential of HAS as a method for precisely sampling the field waveform of non-phase-stabilized, single-cycle transients of light. We show that the extreme nonlinearity of field emission allows our technique to isolate and track the waveform of a single carrier-envelope phase (CEP) setting whose field dynamics results in the most energetic electron cutoff. Our results establish HAS as a robust, compact, all-solid-state method for characterizing light fields with attosecond-level precision and as a powerful tool in light field synthesis.

physics.optics

PHz scale spectral broadening and few-cycle compression of Yb:KGW laser pulses in a pressurized, gas-filled hollow-core fiber

We demonstrate efficient generation of coherent super-octave pulses via a single-stage spectral broadening of a Yb:KGW laser in a single, pressurized, Ne-filled, hollow-core fiber capillary. Emerging pulses spectrally spanning over more than $\sim$1 PHz (250 nm- 1600 nm) at a dynamic range of $\sim$60 dB, and an excellent beam quality open the door to combining Yb:KGW lasers with modern light field synthesis techniques. Compression of a fraction of the generated supercontinuum to intense (8 fs, $\sim$2.4 cycle, $\sim$650 $\mu$J) pulses allows convenient use of these novel laser sources in strong-field physics and attosecond science.

physics.optics