Controlling the interference of multiple molecular orbitals in high-harmonic generation

We demonstrate a new method to investigate the origin of spectral structures in high-harmonic generation. We report detailed measurements of high-harmonic spectra in aligned nitrogen and carbon dioxide molecules. Varying the wavelength and intensity of the generating laser field, we show that the minimum in aligned N2 molecules is nearly unaffected, whereas the minimum in aligned CO2 molecules shifts over more than 15 eV. Our quantitative analysis shows that both the interference of multiple orbitals and their structural characteristics affect the position of the minimum. Our method provides a simple approach to the investigation of the high-harmonic generation process in more complex molecules.