On the Generation of Extremely Short Light Pulses in Effectively One-Dimensional Schemes

Abstract

Using the method of the Green’s function for a wave equation, it is shown that, in a one-dimensional geometry, the field emitted by a resonant medium that is composed by a system of coupled or free charges is proportional not to the acceleration of charges, as is usually assumed, but, rather, to their velocity that they acquire as a result of the action of a light pulse on initially stationary charges. This feature opens up new opportunities for the generation of ultrashort pulses of one-cycle and subcycle durations, as well as for the diagnostics of media and materials using such ultrashort pulses.