Polarization-state-resolved high-harmonic spectroscopy of solids

Area of Science:

• Condensed matter physics
• Ultrafast spectroscopy
• Attosecond metrology

Background:

• Attosecond metrology enables probing sub-optical-cycle electronic and structural dynamics in condensed matter.
• Controlling carrier dynamics in crystals with intense lightwaves is crucial for future petahertz electronics.
• High-order harmonic generation (HHG) from carrier dynamics produces extreme-ultraviolet radiation.

Purpose of the Study:

• Introduce polarization-state-resolved high-harmonic spectroscopy for solids.
• Gain deeper insights into sub-cycle electronic and structural dynamics.
• Demonstrate dynamic control over harmonic polarization states.

Main Methods:

• Performed high-harmonic generation measurements on silicon and quartz.
• Utilized polarization-state-resolved analysis of generated harmonics.
• Conducted ab-initio simulations to support experimental findings.

Main Results:

• Harmonic polarization states depend on crystal symmetries and are dynamically controllable.
• Intertwined interband and intraband electronic dynamics influence polarization states.
• Efficient generation of circularly polarized harmonics from elliptically polarized pulses was achieved.

Conclusions:

• Polarization-state-resolved HHG spectroscopy offers new insights into solid-state dynamics.
• The symmetry-dynamics duality allows for controlled generation of tailored harmonic light.
• Ab-initio simulations confirm the microscopic origins of the observed phenomena.