Eur. Phys. J. Special Topics 199, 89-100 (2011)
https://doi.org/10.1140/epjst/e2011-01505-1

Regular Article

High field physics and extreme nonlinear optics

Brilliance measurement of high order harmonic generation

¹ ICFO-Institut de Ciencies Fotoniques, Mediterranean Technology Park, 08860 Castelldefels (Barcelona), Spain
² National Physical Laboratory, 110012 New Delhi, India
³ INRS-EMT, Université du Québec, Varennes, Québec J3X 1S2, Canada
⁴ Laser and Plasma Institute, Shahid Beheshti University, Evin, Tehran, Iran
⁵ INRIM, Torino 10135, Italy
⁶ INLN, Sophia Antipolis, 06560 Valbonne, France
⁷ Department of Physics and Mathematics, University of Insubria at Como, 22100 Como, Italy
⁸ ICREA-Institució Catalana de Recercea i Estudis Avançats, 08010 Barcelona, Spain

^a e-mail: stephan.teichmann@icfo.es

Received: 29 August 2011
Revised: 4 October 2011
Published online: 7 December 2011

Abstract

Despite the fact that high order harmonic generation (HHG) aims at serving as a table-top light source for imaging applications with extremely high spatial resolution, a general lack of accurate conversion efficiency measurements exists in the field. Here, we present such a measurement for a HHG setup with a semi-infinite gas cell. By combining measurements with a calibrated photodiode sensitive in the extreme ultra-violet (XUV) and spatially resolved spectral measurements of HHG spectra, we are able to determine conversion efficiencies of the HHG process as well as brilliance values for individual harmonics. The method is explained in detail and applicable to any target geometry.