Generation of isolated attosecond pulses in the far field by spatial filtering with an intense few-cycle mid-infrared laser

We report theoretical calculations of high-order harmonic generation (HHG) of Xe with the inclusion of multi-electron effects and macroscopic propagation of the fundamental and harmonic fields in an ionizing medium. By using the time-frequency analysis we show that the reshaping of the fundamental laser field is responsible for the continuum structure in the HHG spectra. We further suggest a method for obtaining an isolated attosecond pulse (IAP) by using a filter centered on axis to select the harmonics in the far field with different divergence. We also discuss the carrier-envelope-phase dependence of an IAP and the possibility to optimize the yield of the IAP. With the intense few-cycle mid-infrared lasers, this offers a possible method for generating isolated attosecond pulses.Comment: 8 figure

Resonant hyper-Raman scattering in spherical quantum dots

A theoretical model of resonant hyper-Raman scattering by an ensemble of spherical semiconductor quantum dots has been developed. The electronic intermediate states are described as Wannier-Mott excitons in the framework of the envelope function approximation. The optical polar vibrational modes of the nanocrystallites (vibrons) and their interaction with the electronic system are analized with the help of a continuum model satisfying both the mechanical and electrostatic matching conditions at the interface. An explicit expression for the hyper-Raman scattering efficiency is derived, which is valid for incident two-photon energy close to the exciton resonances. The dipole selection rules for optical transitions and Fr\"ohlich-like exciton-lattice interaction are derived: It is shown that only exciton states with total angular momentum $L=0,1$ and vibrational modes with angular momentum $l_p=1$ contribute to the hyper-Raman scattering process. The associated exciton energies, wavefunctions, and vibron frequencies have been obtained for spherical CdSe zincblende-type nanocrystals, and the corresponding hyper-Raman scattering spectrum and resonance profile are calculated. Their dependence on the dot radius and the influence of the size distribution on them are also discussed.Comment: 12 pages REVTeX (two columns), 2 tables, 8 figure

Electron-phonon interaction in quantum-dot/quantum-well semiconductor heterostructures

Polar optical phonons are studied in the framework of the dielectric continuum approach for a prototypical quantum-dot/quantum-well (QD/QW) heterostructure, including the derivation of the electron-phonon interaction Hamiltonian and a discussion of the effects of this interaction on the electronic energy levels. The particular example of the CdS/HgS QD/QW is addressed and the system is modelled according to the spherical geometry, considering a core sphere of material "1" surrounded by a spherically concentric layer of material "2", while the whole structure is embedded in a host matrix assumed as an infinite dielectric medium. The strength of the electron-LO phonon coupling is discussed in details and the polaronic corrections to both ground state and excited state electron energy levels are calculated. Interesting results concerning the dependence of polaronic corrections with the QD/QW structure size are analyzed.Comment: 8 pages, 5 figure

Interface optical phonons in spheroidal dots: Raman selection rules

The contribution of interface phonons to the first order Raman scattering in nanocrystals with non spherical geometry is analyzed. Interface optical phonons in the spheroidal geometry are discussed and the corresponding Frohlich-like electron-phonon interaction is reported in the framework of the dielectric continuum approach. It is shown that the interface phonon modes are strongly dependent on the nanocrystal geometry, particularly on the ellipsoid's semi-axis ratio. The new Raman selection rules have revealed that solely interface phonon modes with even angular momentum are allowed to contribute to the first order phonon-assisted scattering of light. On this basis we are able to give an explanation for the observed low frequency shoulders present in the Raman cross-section of several II-VI semiconductor nanostructures.Comment: 8 pages, 2 figure

N2 HOMO-1 orbital cross section revealed through high-order-harmonic generation

Citation: Troß, J., Ren, X., Makhija, V., Mondal, S., Kumarappan, V., & Trallero-Herrero, C. A. (2017). N2 HOMO-1 orbital cross section revealed through high-order-harmonic generation. Physical Review A - Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics, 95(3). doi:10.1103/PhysRevA.95.033419We measure multi-orbital contributions to high harmonic generation from aligned nitrogen. We show that the change in revival structure in the cutoff harmonics has a counterpart in the angular distribution when a lower-lying orbital contributes to the harmonic yield. This angular distribution is directly observed in the laboratory without any further deconvolution. Because of the high degree of alignment we are able to distinguish angular contributions of the highest occupied molecular orbital 1 (HOMO-1) orbital from angle-dependent spectroscopic features of the HOMO. In particular, we are able to make a direct comparison with the cross section of the HOMO-1 orbital in the extreme ultraviolet region. © 2017 American Physical Society

Incidence, seasonality and serotypes of rotavirus in Gipuzkoa (Basque Country), Spain. A 14-year study

Over a 14-year period (1984–97) the presence of rotavirus in stool samples from children under 15 years with acute gastroenteritis was studied by enzymoimmunoanalysis. Serotyping (G1–G4) was performed using monoclonal antibodies. A total of 17348 children under 15 were investigated. Rotavirus was detected in 3637 (21·0%) specimens, 74·6% of which were from children younger than 2 years old. G1 and G4 were the most frequent serotypes. In 1991–7, the minimum incidence of rotavirus gastroenteritis in children under 4 years of age was 21·7 cases/1000 children/year. By the age of 5 years, at least 1 out of 11·3 children and probably 1 out of every 5–6 children in this area had experienced an episode of rotavirus gastroenteritis that required medical care. In the 1984–90 period a clear seasonality was not observed but in the second period of the study (1991–7), seasonality was marked, with peak activity in winter