Abstract

Based on high-order harmonic generation (HHG) spectra obtained from solving the time-dependent Schrödinger equation for atoms, we established quantitatively that the HHG yield can be expressed as the product of a returning electron wave packet and photorecombination cross sections, and the shape of the returning wave packet is shown to be largely independent of the species. By comparing the HHG spectra generated from different targets under identical laser pulses, accurate structural information, including the phase of the recombination amplitude, can be retrieved. This result opens up the possibility of studying the target structure of complex systems, including their time evolution, from the HHG spectra generated by short laser pulses.

Department(s)

Physics

Comments

This work was supported in part by the Chemical Sciences, Geosciences and Biosciences Division, Office of Basic Energy Sciences, Office of Science, U.S. Department of Energy.

Keywords and Phrases

Atomic Physics; Atoms; Chlorine Compounds; Harmonic Generation; Inert Gases; Laser Beams; Laser Fusion; Laser Pulses; Lasers; Pulsed Laser Applications; Wave Packets; Waves, Complex Systems; Cross Sectioning; Dinger Equation; Electron Wave Packets; Harmonic Spectrum; High-Order; High-Order Harmonic Generation; Photorecombination; Rare-Gas Atoms; Short Laser Pulses; Structural Informations; Target Structures; Time Evolutions; Time-Dependent, Atomic Spectroscopy

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

1050-2947

Document Type

Article - Journal

Document Version

Final Version

File Type

text

Language(s)

English

Rights

© 2008 American Physical Society (APS), All rights reserved.

Publication Date

01 Aug 2008

Included in

Physics Commons

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