Microjoule sub-10 fs VUV pulse generation by MW pump pulses using highly efficient chirped four-wave mixing in hollow-core photonic crystal fibers

We theoretically study chirped four-wave mixing for VUV pulse generation in hollow-core photonic crystal fibers. We predict the generation of sub-10 fs VUV pulses with energy of up to hundreds of µJ by broad-band chirped idler pulses at 830 nm and MW pump pulses with narrow-band at 277 nm. The MW pump could be desirable to reduce the complexity of the laser system or use a high repetition rate laser system. The energy conversion efficiency from pump pulse to VUV pulse reaches to 30% . This generation can be realized in a kagome-lattice hollow-core PCF filled with noble gas of high pressure with core diameter less than 40 µm, which would enable technically simple or highly efficient coupling to the fundamental mode of the fiber. (paper)