Relativistic Polarized Mid-infrared Optical Source in Magnetized Plasma

Year: 2026

Authors: Liu WJ., Li DA., Pegoraro F., Zhang GB., Liu K., Hu LX., Xu XR., Wang WQ., Zou DB., Sheng ZM., Yu TP.

Autors Affiliation: Natl Univ Def Technol, Coll Sci, Changsha 410073, Peoples R China; Univ Pisa, Phys Dept, I-56127 Pisa, Italy; CNR, Ist Nazl Ottica, Pisa, Italy; Shanghai Jiao Tong Univ, Sch Phys & Astron, State Key Lab Dark Matter Phys, Key Lab Laser Plasmas MOE, Shanghai 200240, Peoples R China; Shanghai Jiao Tong Univ, Collaborat Innovat Ctr IFSA, Shanghai 200240, Peoples R China; Shanghai Jiao Tong Univ, Tsung Dao Lee Inst, Shanghai 201210, Peoples R China.

Abstract: Relativistic polarized mid-infrared (mid-IR) pulses hold promising applications in strong-field physics, ultrafast science, and astrophysics such as the acceleration of laser wakefields, investigation of ultrafast processes, detection of young stellar objects, and exploration of various astronomical phenomena. However, due to the damage threshold of crystals and the nonlinear effect of relativistic lasers, it is still a great challenge to generate and manipulate the relativistic mid-IR pulse via traditional optical components. Here, we propose a novel method to generate relativistic polarized mid-IR pulse sources via laser-plasma interaction. When a relativistic laser pulse propagates into a transversely magnetized gas plasma, a nonlinear plasma wake is excited, resulting in the generation of a long-wavelength mid-IR pulse via photon deceleration. On the other hand, due to the phase difference between the ordinary wave and the extraordinary wave components caused by the relativistic magneto-birefringence effect, the polarization of the mid-IR pulse can be manipulated from linear to elliptical, and even to circular. Three-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations demonstrate that the relativistic polarized mid-IR optical source is achievable with a center wavelength of 8.3 & micro;m, a duration of 66.4 fs, and a spectral width of 6.3 to 16.7 & micro;m. Especially, the light polarization can be manipulated by adjusting the drive laser polarization angle and the strength of the external magnetic field. This relativistic polarized mid-IR source generated in a compact and efficient manner can offer new opportunities for strong-field physics, attosecond science, and laboratory astrophysics.

Journal/Review: ULTRAFAST SCIENCE

Volume: 6      Pages from: 176-1  to: 176-10

More Information: This research is supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 12375244, 12135009, 12475252, and 12175310) and the Natural Science Foundation of Hunan Province (Grant No. 2025JJ30002).
KeyWords: Laser-pulses; Acceleration; Physics; Amplification; Driven
DOI: 10.34133/ultrafastscience.0176