Recently, Prof. Ruan Shuangchen, president of Shenzhen Technology University (SZTU), Prof. Zhou Cangtao, dean of College of Engineering Physics, and their team members proposed a scheme to generate attosecond pulses and subcycle coherent optical shock radiation from a superluminal plasma wake and explained a new scheme to generate coherent radiation dominated by the collective effect of electrons. The work was published in a top-notch physics journal Physical Review Letters and titled “Coherent subcycle optical shock from a superluminal plasma wake”. Assistant Prof. Peng Hao is the first author and Prof. Huang Taiwu, Prof. Zhou Cangtao and Prof. Ruan Shuangchen are the co-corresponding authors.

(a) Schematic diagram of the coherent optical shock generation from a superluminal plasma wake. (b) 3D PIC simulation results of subcycle pulse generation from a superluminal plasma wake. [Photo/https://journals.aps.org/prl/abstract/10.1103/PhysRevLett.131.145003]

The researchers have proposed a new scheme of exploiting the Cherenkov radiation for generating coherent isolated, intense, carrier envelope phase-stable subcycle radiation pulses from a superluminal plasma wake in a plasma with density up-ramp. A theoretical model has been developed and it agrees well with the simulation results. In particular, the far-field radiation has an excellent directionality, low angular divergence, a well-defined wave front, and high frequency tunability. These attributes make the proposed method highly attractive for a wide range of applications. It is worth noting that the necessary plasma and high-energy drivers are already available in current experimental setups. The full text of the article can be found at: https://journals.aps.org/prl/abstract/10.1103/PhysRevLett.131.145003.

Drafted by Daisy（姚琦）/ International Cooperation & Student Affairs Office

Revised by International Cooperation & Student Affairs Office

Edited by International Cooperation & Student Affairs Office