HISOL: High-energy soliton dynamics enable ultrafast far-ultraviolet laser sources

Ultrafast laser sources in the far ultraviolet (100-300 nm) have been the subject of intense experimental efforts for several decades, driven primarily by the requirements of advanced experiments in ultrafast science. Resonant dispersive wave emission from high-energy laser pulses undergoing soliton self-compression in a gas-filled hollow capillary fiber promises to meet several of these requirements for the first time, most importantly by combining wide-ranging wavelength tuneability with the generation of extremely short pulses. In this Perspective, we give an overview of this approach to ultrafast far-ultraviolet sources, including its historical origin and underlying physical mechanism, the state of the art and current challenges, and our view of potential applications both within and beyond ultrafast science.