Modifications of high harmonic spectra by ion resonant transitions

High-order harmonic generation is considered in a system consisting of an ion with an internal degree of freedom plus an outer electron. The theoretical treatment is both quantum-mechanical and classical. The emphasis is on the core resonance effects, which can significantly modify the harmonic spectra, with appearance of anomalous peaks. Under some assumptions, the spectral amplitude of the resonant harmonic of the system dipole moment can be obtained by evaluation of such amplitude within a single-electron approximation and multiplication of the result by a correcting factor. The latter depends on the polarizability of the ion and of a free electron at the harmonic frequency. Copyright \ua9 1996 by MAHK Hayka/Interperiodica Publishing

Quasi-phase-matching of high-order-harmonic generation using polarization beating in optical waveguides

A scheme for quasi-phase-matching high-harmonic generation is proposed in which polarization beating within a hollow core birefringent waveguide modulates the generation of harmonics. The evolution of the polarization of a laser pulse propagating in a birefringent waveguide is calculated and is shown to periodically modulate the harmonic generation process. The optimum conditions for achieving quasi-phase-matching using this scheme are explored and the growth of the harmonic intensity as a function of experimental parameters is investigated. © 2012 American Physical Society