Enhanced High-Harmonic Generation Using 25 fs Laser Pulses

We present experimental and theoretical results on high-harmonic generation in noble gases using an 805 nm, 25 fs, titanium-doped sapphire laser. The harmonic energies observed are unexpectedly high when compared with experimental and theoretical results to date for longer excitation pulses. We observe that the efficiency of harmonic production is highest for shorter pulses. Furthermore, the wavelength of the harmonics can be tuned by adjusting the sign of the chirp of the excitation pulse, demonstrating a tunable, ultrashort-pulse, $<25\mathrm{}\mathrm{fs}$ soft-x-ray source.