Spatial Distribution of High-Order Harmonics Generated in the Tunneling Regime,

Abstract

High-order harmonic production in a jet of krypton or xenon gas is studied using a 1.053 microns wavelength laser. All the harmonics in the 9th to 31st range display approximately equal angular widths with cone angles that are approximately half that of the laser. Lowest order perturbation theory predicts the angular widths to decrease with harmonic order N to the -1/2. The study of highly nonlinear processes in an intense laser field has become a topic of great interest. Among the possible effects is harmonic production of the laser field. In atomic gases the dipole approximation predicts the presence of only odd harmonics. We have studied the angular distribution of high-order odd harmonics (9th through 31st) and we find the results to be inconsistent with predictions of lowest order perturbation theory (LOPT). As expected, the harmonics are present when linearly polarized light is used and absent with circularly polarized light.

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 22, 1992
Accession Number
ADP007043

Entities

People

  • C. L. Moore
  • D. D. Meyerhofer
  • J. Peatross
  • S. Augst

Organizations

  • University of Rochester

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • California
  • Coherent Radiation
  • Demographic Cohorts
  • Harmonics
  • Perturbation Theory
  • Perturbations
  • Production
  • Quantum Tunneling
  • Radiation
  • Spatial Distribution
  • Tunneling

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Optical Physics and Photonics.
  • Plasma Physics / Magnetohydrodynamics

Technology Areas

  • Directed Energy
  • Directed Energy - Lasers