Nonlinear propagation effect in x-ray parametric amplification during high harmonic generation

We report the realization and characterization of parametric amplification in high harmonic generation around 100 eV using He gas in a double gas jet arrangement. The delay of the seed XUV pulse with respect to the amplifier gas jet was scanned by changing the distance between the gas jets. Experiments and numerical calculations show that parametric amplification occurs within a temporal window of several optical cycles. Strong correlation between the seed and amplifier was observed in a shorter, few optical cycles delay range, which appeared as a modulation of the XUV intensity with an unexpected one optical cycle periodicity instead of half optical cycle. Simulations revealed that the strong correlation and also the unusual periodicity was the consequence of the nonlinear effect produced by plasma dispersion on the parametric amplification process during propagation in the amplifier jet.