Theory of high-order harmonic generation by an elliptically polarized laser field

High-order-harmonic-generation spectroscopy with an elliptically polarized laser field

Elliptically polarized high-order harmonic emission from molecules in linearly polarized laser fields.

We perform an accurate polarimetry measurement of high-order harmonic emission from aligned molecules. We find that harmonic emission from N2 can be strongly elliptically polarized even when driven by linearly polarized laser fields. These data have broad implications for understanding molecules in strong fields because they cannot be explained by simple theories based on the strong field appro...

High-order harmonic generation with an annular laser beam.

High-order harmonics have been generated by the use of an annular laser beam. The nonlinearity of harmonic production and the shorter wavelengths involved cause the harmonics to emerge strongly peaked on the laser axis. Thus the harmonics emerge from the focus inside the missing portion of the laser beam. This permits the laser to be blocked by an aperture that passes the harmonics.

Dramatic enhancement of supercontinuum generation in elliptically-polarized laser filaments

Broadband laser sources based on supercontinuum generation in femtosecond laser filamentation have enabled applications from stand-off sensing and spectroscopy to the generation and self-compression of high-energy few-cycle pulses. Filamentation relies on the dynamic balance between self-focusing and plasma defocusing - mediated by the Kerr nonlinearity and multiphoton or tunnel ionization, res...

Circularly polarized molecular high harmonic generation using a bicircular laser

We investigate the process of circularly polarized high harmonic generation in molecules using a bicircular laser field. In this context, we show that molecules offer a very robust framework for the production of circularly polarized harmonics, provided their symmetry is compatible with that of the laser field. Using a discrete time-dependent symmetry analysis, we show how all the features (har...