Search arXiv⌕ Search
Home/Archive/arXiv

arXiv · 0802.2301

Theory of high-order harmonic generation from molecules by intense laser pulses

Anh-Thu Le·R. Della Picca·P. D. Fainstein·D. A. Telnov·M. Lein·C. D. Lin
View original source ↗Read source document ↗Export metadata ↓

Abstract

We show that high-order harmonics generated from molecules by intense laser pulses can be expressed as the product of a returning electron wave packet and the photo-recombination cross section (PRCS) where the electron wave packet can be obtained from simple strong-field approximation (SFA) or from a companion atomic target. Using these wave packets but replacing the PRCS obtained from SFA or from the atomic target by the accurate PRCS from molecules, the resulting HHG spectra are shown to agree well with the benchmark results from direct numerical solution of the time-dependent Schrödinger equation, for the case of H$_2^+$ in laser fields. The result illustrates that these powerful theoretical tools can be used for obtaining high-order harmonic spectra from molecules. More importantly, the results imply that the PRCS extracted from laser-induced HHG spectra can be used for time-resolved dynamic chemical imaging of transient molecules with temporal resolutions down to a few femtoseconds.

Explore related subjects

physics.atom-phphysics.optics

Keep this discovery

Explore connections, maps & timelines

BibTeXRIS

Anh-Thu Le, R. Della Picca, P. D. Fainstein, D. A. Telnov, M. Lein, C. D. Lin. 2008-02-15. Theory of high-order harmonic generation from molecules by intense laser pulses. https://doi.org/10.1088/0953-4075%2F41%2F8%2F081002

Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.

KEEP EXPLORING

Related papers

arXiv2026

Vector Measurements Using Integrated Radio Frequency Atomic Magnetometers

We demonstrate reconstruction of three-dimensional radio-frequency (RF) magnetic-field vectors using a pair of integrated RF atomic magnetometers operated with orthogonal bias-field orientations. A theoretical and experimental analysis identifies a phase-ambiguity dead band that limits reconstruction when the two sensor responses become nearly identical. Measurements performed in an unshielded laboratory environment demonstrate accurate reconstruction of RF magnetic-field orientations and validate the predicted dependence of reconstruction accuracy on signal imbalance. These results establish integrated RF atomic magnetometers as a compact and sensitive platform for directional RF magnetic-field sensing, particularly at low frequencies, and provide a foundation for portable source-localization and field-mapping applications.

physics.atom-ph↗
arXiv2026

Anomalously enhanced lifetimes of low angular momentum Rydberg states in singly charged alkaline-earth metal ions

Trapped ions excited to high-lying electronic states, so-called Rydberg states, open new opportunities for quantum simulation and quantum computing. Generally, the fidelity of quantum coherent operations critically depends on the longevity of Rydberg states. However, scaling laws predict that the lifetimes of Rydberg states in singly charged alkaline-earth metal ions are 16 times shorter, compared to their neutral atom counterparts. Here, we show that this is not generally the case. We report an anomalous lifetime enhancement of certain low angular momentum ionic Rydberg series by factors larger than eight. The anomaly is present at both zero and finite temperature, although it is caused by different mechanisms. At zero temperature, the anomalously enhanced lifetimes are caused by accidental cancellations of the relevant dipole transition matrix elements, while at room temperature the anomaly originates from the enlarged energetic separation of ionic Rydberg levels with respect to neutral-atom levels.

physics.atom-ph↗
arXiv2026

Ytterbium lattice clock with systematic uncertainty of $1.3\times 10^{-18}$ and instability at the $10^{-19}$ level

We report an optical lattice clock based on $^{171}$Yb atoms with a total systematic uncertainty of $1.3\times 10^{-18}$. An in-vacuum buildup cavity was employed to enhance the lattice light power. Differential frequency measurement between two identical clocks facilitates the evaluation of systematic shifts. Synchronous comparison of the two clocks reached a stability level of $2.7\times 10^{-19}$ in an averaging time of 216,000~s. The blackbody radiation (BBR) shield which is placed in vacuum provides a well-characterized BBR environment, enabling an uncertainty contribution of $8.7\times 10^{-19}$ from the BBR Stark shift. Lattice light shifts were measured at different lattice depths $U$, and fitted with a fourth-order polynomial of $U$. The zero-linear-shift frequency $ν_{\mathrm{zero}}$ was determined to be 394 798 260.6(3) MHz. The lattice light shift can be controlled at an uncertainty level of $6.3\times 10^{-19}$ under typical operating conditions. Other systematic shifts have also been evaluated. The two clocks will be used for remote frequency comparisons between Shanghai and Wuhan.

physics.atom-ph↗