Trajectory-controlled high-order harmonic generation in ZnO crystals.

Area of Science:

• Solid-state physics
• Quantum optics
• Attosecond science

Background:

• High-order harmonic generation (HHG) in solids is a complex quantum phenomenon.
• Understanding electron dynamics and trajectory interference is crucial for controlling HHG.

Purpose of the Study:

• To experimentally and theoretically investigate HHG in zinc oxide (ZnO) crystals.
• To map harmonic trajectories to spatial distributions and analyze their divergence.
• To control electron dephasing time and trajectory interference on the attosecond timescale.

Main Methods:

• Irradiating ZnO crystals with mid-infrared lasers.
• Mapping harmonic trajectories to far-field spatial distributions.
• Theoretical modeling of coherent interference between short and long electron trajectories.
• Utilizing one-color or two-color laser configurations for control.

Main Results:

• Divergence angles of on-axis and off-axis harmonics show distinct dependencies on harmonic order.
• Theoretical reproduction of observations via coherent interference with dephasing time > 0.5 optical cycle.
• Accurate control of short and long trajectory contributions using laser color configurations on the attosecond timescale.

Conclusions:

• The study provides a reliable method for determining electron dephasing time in solids.
• Demonstrates versatile control over trajectory interference in solid HHG.
• Offers potential for advanced applications in attosecond science and materials research.