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Dynamics of the critical surface in high-intensity laser-solid interactions: modulation of the XUV harmonic spectra
1The Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, Prince Consort Road, London SW7 2BZ, United Kingdom.
Physical Review Letters
|April 17, 2002
Abstract:
The generation of harmonics from the interaction of an intense (I>or=10(18) W cm(-2)) laser with a solid surface is investigated. Modulation of the harmonic emission spectrum with a periodicity of 2 to 4 harmonics is observed at higher laser intensities. A similar modulation is predicted by a particle-in-cell simulation. The modulation is shown to be caused by the higher modes of oscillation of the critical surface during the interaction. As a result, the dynamics of the critical surface can be inferred from the shape of the harmonic spectrum.