Subpicosecond pulse compression in the VUV region by induced-phase modulation in Xe

The feasibility of subpicosecond pulse compression in the VUV region using the induced phase modulation in Xe is theoretically studied by numerically solving equations for the amplitude and phase of a weak VUV signal pulse in the presence of an intense pump pulse at the visible wavelength. Substantial pulse compression can be realized with compact pulse compressors when the pump pulse width is decreased. When a 9.6 ps pump pulse at 403 nm with the peak intensity of 1 GW/cm² is assumed, the signal pulse at 157 nm is compressed from 12 ps to 260 fs by the pulse compressor, with a grating-mirror separation of <2.5 m. Influences on the pulse compression of the timing between two incident pulses and the dynamic change in nonlinear susceptibility are also described