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Generation and Coherent Control of Pulsed Quantum Frequency Combs
Published on: June 8, 2018
High harmonic generation and the role of atomic orbital wave functions
J Levesque1, D Zeidler, J P Marangos
1National Research Council of Canada, 100 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0R6, Canada.
Physical Review Letters
|May 16, 2007
Summary
High harmonic spectra from rare gases reveal that atomic orbital influence during recombination causes spectral differences. The electron wave packet amplitude is atom-independent, aligning with tunnel ionization models.
Area of Science:
- Atomic Physics
- Quantum Optics
- Laser-Matter Interactions
Background:
- High harmonic generation (HHG) is a key process for producing extreme ultraviolet and X-ray light.
- Understanding the influence of atomic structure on HHG is crucial for controlling light properties.
- Previous studies have explored HHG in various atoms, but a systematic comparison focusing on orbital effects is needed.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of atomic orbitals in high harmonic spectra of rare-gas atoms.
- To determine the atom-independent features of the continuum electron wave packet.
- To compare experimental results with theoretical calculations using different gauge formalisms.
Main Methods:
- Recording high harmonic spectra from different rare-gas atoms under identical experimental conditions.
- Analyzing spectral differences to isolate the contribution of atomic orbitals.
- Deriving the amplitude of the continuum electron wave packet from experimental data.
- Comparing experimental data with theoretical calculations in the length and velocity gauges.
Main Results:
- High harmonic spectra varied among rare-gas atoms but differences were primarily attributed to orbital influence in the recombination step.
- The derived amplitude of the continuum electron wave packet versus kinetic energy was largely independent of the specific atom.
- Experimental results agree with predictions from tunnel ionization models.
- Length and velocity gauge calculations yielded different de Broglie wavelengths, highlighting gauge dependence in theoretical interpretations.
Conclusions:
- Atomic orbital structure significantly impacts the recombination step in high harmonic generation.
- The continuum electron wave packet properties are robust and largely independent of the parent atom.
- Tunnel ionization models provide a good framework for understanding these observations.
- Discrepancies between length and velocity gauge calculations warrant further investigation regarding theoretical formalisms.
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