Polarization effects and the role of above-threshold ionization photoelectrons in high-order harmonic generation: comparison of experiment with quantum electrodynamic theory

J. Gao, F. Shen, J. G. Eden

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Transition matrix elements derived previously (J Gao et al 1998 Phys. Rev. Lett. 81 1833) from QED theory to describe high-order harmonic generation in intense optical fields are modified for elliptically polarized fields and compared with semiclassical theory and recent experimental studies of harmonic polarization characteristics. Calculations are in agreement with published data for Ne and Ar, including measurements of the components of the harmonic yield that are parallel or transverse to the major axis of the polarization ellipse for the driving optical field. The results confirm that preserving discrete photoelectron energies and incorporating two to three above-threshold ionization orders into the calculations account for the data. Also, the calculations demonstrate that the Volkov → Volkov state transition matrix element is capable of describing the polarization characteristics of the harmonics.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)4153-4161
Number of pages9
JournalJournal of Physics B: Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics
Volume32
Issue number17
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 14 1999

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics
  • Condensed Matter Physics

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