Probing ultrafast nano-localized plasmonic fields via XUV light generation

Abstract

We present a systematic investigation into the conditions required for the production of XUV light via nanoplasmonic enhanced high harmonic generation in metallic spheroids. Control over the temporal response of the plasmonic fields, and therefore the resulting XUV radiation, is achieved through the nanostructure configuration and the carrier envelope phase of the driving laser pulse. Coupled symmetric structures are shown to produce sufficient localized field enhancement and relatively long exponential plasmon decay times leading to the characteristic high harmonic spectra. In contrast coupled asymmetric structures have a much broader resonance and a highly non-uniform plasmon response in the temporal domain. © 2010 SPIE.