Dario Cricchio

A paradigm of fullerene

We study the dynamics of an electron constrained over the surface of a rigid sphere, with geometrical parameters similar to those of the C60 fullerene, embedded in a low intensity linearly polarized laser field. The model is shown to emit odd harmonics of the laser even at very low field intensity. For more intense laser fields, the spectrum presents odd harmonics and hyper-Raman lines shaped in a broad plateau. The spectrum of the model is compared to that theoretically obtained by other authors for more realistic models of C60. It is concluded that the model can be used as a paradigm for mesoscopic molecules in the fullerene family, particularly in practical applications where it is convenient to have a simple model of fullerene molecules. It is also concluded that the model is an example lending support to the concept of universality introduced by other authors some time ago.

Harmonic generation from nanorings driven by a two-color laser field

We study the high harmonic generation and the polarization of the harmonics emitted by a nanoring driven by two laser fields of angular frequency ?1 and ?2, with ?2?=?2?1, and ?1 resonant between the ground and the first excited state. We show that by varying parameters, such as laser intensity, photon energy and the delay between the two laser pulses, we can control the number of harmonics and the polarization of the radiation. In particular we show that with this choice of two-laser photon frequency rate we obtain more harmonics with respect to other configurations. We also calculated the average absorbed energy and the average angular momentum acquired by the electron as a function of the intensity of the two lasers obtaining spikes of angular momentum.

Graphene in strong laser field: experiment and theory

The interaction of graphene nanoparticles and strong 64 fs pulses is examined. We demonstrate high-order harmonic generation in the plasma contained in crumpled sheets of graphene. The morphological studies of the debris of ablated graphene, application of single-color and two-color pumps of graphene-containing plasma, and theoretical consideration of the high-order harmonic generation in this medium are presented.

Classical chaos and harmonic generation in laser driven nanorings

A quantum ring driven by an intense laser field emits light in the form of high-harmonic radiation resulting from the strong acceleration experienced by the active electrons forced to move on a curved trajectory. The spectrum of the emitted light is rich and strongly dependent on the parameters of the problem. In order to investigate the physical origin of such variability, we focus on the seemingly simple problem of a laser-driven charge constrained to a ring from a classical standpoint. As it turns out, the dynamics of such a classical electron is governed by a nonlinear equation which results into a chaotic motion—by nature depending on the initial conditions in an unpredictable way. Our results indicate that the quantum harmonic spectra are reminiscent of the classical counterpart and suggest the existence of a line connecting the quantum and classical realms.