Xiang-Yang Miao

Multiple rescattering processes in high-order harmonic generation from molecular system

The molecular multiple rescattering processes have been theoretically investigated via solving the time-dependent Schrödinger equation. Not only has the physical model been established, but also the related rescatterings originating from recombination with parent nucleus and with neighboring nucleus have been distinguished. Moreover, it has shown that the rescatterings originating from recombination with parent nucleus are similar with those atomic rescatterings, while those rescatterings from recombination with neighboring nucleus both before and after reversing the direction of the laser field are more sensitive to the internuclear distance. With time-frequency distribution and classical electron dynamics, the underlying mechanisms are revealed.

Broadband-Isolated Attosecond Pulse Generation by Two-Color Elliptically Polarized Laser Pulses

We numerically solve the two-dimensional Schrödinger equation and investigate isolated attosecond pulse generation by combining a left and a right elliptically polarized pulse together. It is found that the plateau of the harmonic spectra can be extended and the quantum paths can be controlled by adjusting ellipticity. A broadband width of about 220 eV is generated for the case that ellipticity equals 0.3, and time-frequency time–frequency analysis shows that only one long quantum path contributes to high-order harmonic generation. By superposing a bandwidth of 60 eV near the cutoff of the harmonic plateau, an attosecond pulse with the duration of about 62 as could be generated.

Effects of the Chirped Pulse on Dissociation and Ionization Processes for Hydrogen Molecular Ions at Low Vibrational States

ABSTRACT The influence of a chirped laser pulse (5- fs, 800- nm) on dissociation and ionization processes for hydrogen molecular ions at low vibrational levels with different intensities has been discussed by numerically solving the one-dimensional time-dependent Schrödinger equation. By employing the “virtual detector” method, the probabilities and kinetic- energy- release spectra of dissociation and Coulomb explosion channels have been calculated. The results indicate that both the dissociation and ionization processes could be enhanced with proper chirp parameters; additionally, the dissociation process occurring at an early time in the chirped laser field is more sensitive to chirp parameters at low intensity due to the enhancement of the bond softening channel. The corresponding theoretical explanation is also provided.

Extending the High-Order Harmonics Plateau and Isolated Attosecond Pulse Generation in an Intense Three-Color Laser Field

ABSTRACT We propose a method to extend the high-order harmonics plateau and generate an isolated sub-10-as pulse by adding a weak control pulse (10 fs, 1600 nm) to modify a two-color laser field (5 fs, 800 nm; 10 fs, 400 nm). The numerical results show that the plateau is extended obviously in the three-color laser field regime. Additionally, the ionization rate and classical returning kinetic-energy maps are calculated to better understand the physical origin of the high-order harmonics generation (HHG). By means of the ionization probability and the time-frequency distributions, more features of the HHG are revealed. Furthermore, our simulations show that the width of the plateau and the relative conversion efficiency of the harmonic spectra are highly dependent on the relative phase. Finally, by adjusting the relative phase and superposing a properly selected range of the HHG spectrum, an isolated attosecond pulse with a duration of 7 as is obtained.

Enhancement of High-Order Harmonic Emission and Isolated 7-as Pulse Generation with Rydberg Atoms by Using a Two-Color Laser Field

ABSTRACT An efficient method to enhance the harmonic efficiency and generate an isolated attosecond pulse is proposed by preparing the initial state as a coherent superposition of the ground state and a Rydberg state in a two-color laser field. By numerically solving the time-dependent Schrödinger equation, we found that for the superposition state with the optimal Rydberg state, not only is the harmonic efficiency enhanced significantly, but also the width of the continuous spectrum is extended. The ionization probability and the time-frequency distribution of the harmonic spectrum are also calculated to understand the physical origin of the enhancement of the harmonic spectrum. In addition, by adjusting the parameter of the laser pulse, a supercontinuum with both higher conversion efficiency and slighter modulation can be observed. As a result, an isolated 7-as pulse with a bandwidth of 495 eV can be obtained after phase compensation.

Theoretical research on multiple rescatterings in the process of high-order harmonic generation from a helium atom with a long wavelength

The phenomenon of multiple rescatterings in the process of high-order harmonic generation from a helium atom with a long wavelength is investigated by solving the time-dependent Schrodinger equation and the classical equation of motion. The results present the rule of cutoff energies for the multirescattering events. What is more, the physical picture of the multiple rescatterings is built and the physical mechanism is revealed in detail. Further studies show that the multiple rescatterings can be manipulated effectively and the intra-cycle interference of multiple rescatterings is weakened simultaneously when the initial state is prepared in the superposition state. Additionally, the long quantum path is verified to play an important role in the multiple rescattering processes.

Theoretical Exploration of the Isotopic Effect on Molecular High-Order Harmonic Generation

ABSTRACT The isotopic effect on the generation of the molecular high-order harmonics is studied by numerically solving the one-dimensional time-dependent Schrödinger equation when the model hydrogen molecule ions/hydrogen deuterium molecule ions are exposed to an intense laser pulse. To explain the effect more clearly, not only the ionization probabilities but also the electron–nuclear probability density distributions and time-frequency profiles are calculated. The results show that more intense harmonics are generated in the asymmetric diatomic molecule ions/hydrogen deuterium molecule ions than those of hydrogen molecule ions. Moreover, the interference minimum in the harmonic spectra is investigated by adjusting the laser intensity and the initial vibrational state. It is shown that the interference minimum is sensitive to the laser intensity and the initial vibrational level for hydrogen molecule ions; in contrast, it is only dependent on the initial vibrational level for hydrogen deuterium molecule ions.

Theoretical Study of High-Order Harmonic Generation From a Coherent Superposition State in a Chirp-Free Pulse Combined with a Chirped Control Pulse

ABSTRACT In this paper, we theoretically investigate high-order harmonic generation (HHG) from a helium atom prepared in a coherent superposition state in a two-color laser field. Numerical results show that the emission efficiency of the harmonic spectrum in a coherent superposition state is enhanced by approximately eight orders of magnitude compared with the case of the ground state. In addition, the effect of the initial population of the excited state on the HHG is presented to reveal the physical origin of the enhancement of HHG. By adjusting the laser parameters of the driving pulse, such as the chirping parameter, the relative phase, and the intensity of the driving pulse, an ultrabroad continuum with a width of 275 eV can be observed. Finally, an isolated 12-as pulse is generated after phase compensation.

Theoretical Exploration of Laser-Parameter Effects on High-Order Harmonic Generation From Molecular Ion

ABSTRACT For the molecular ion in few-cycle laser pulses, numerical simulation of the one-dimensional (1D) non-Born-Oppenheimer approximation time-dependent Schrödinger equation was performed to study the effect of laser parameters on molecular high-order harmonic generation (HHG). The minimum in the high-order harmonic spectrum, as a consequence of the destructive interference, appears in the case of a long wavelength. By manipulating the parameters of the laser fields in HHG, we demonstrate that the interference minimum in the high-order region is significantly dependent on the laser parameter; however, in the low-order region it is insensitive to the laser parameter. Additionally, the time-frequency analysis is used to identify the mechanism of electron recombination times in HHG.

Quantum path control in the presence of a half-cycle pulse to generate isolated attosecond pulse

ABSTRACT Quantum path control on the harmonic emission from hydrogen molecular ion is investigated via combining an intense few-cycle laser and a half-cycle pulse (HCP). The results show that the quantum paths of returning electrons can be effectively modified due to the introduction of the HCP which extremely dominates the acceleration process of ionized electron. With the favorable conditions, the long quantum path is completely eliminated and an isolated 61 as pulse can be obtained by superposing proper harmonics. Moreover, the electron wave packet distributions and the double-well model are presented to explore the underlying physical mechanism.