Quasi-phase matching of high-harmonics and attosecond pulses in modulated waveguides

We describe theoretically a new technique for quasi-phase-matched generation of high harmonics and attosecond pulses in a gas medium, in a high ionization limit. A corrugated hollow-core fiber modulates the intensity of the fundamental pulse along the direction of propagation, resulting in a periodic modulation of the harmonic emission at wavelengths close to the cutoff. This leads to an increase of the harmonic yield of up to three orders of magnitude. At the same time the highest harmonics merge in a broad band that corresponds to a single attosecond pulse, using 15-fs driving pulses. (C) 2000 Optical Society of America.