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Theory of high-harmonic generation by low-frequency laser fields

M. Lewenstein, Ph. Balcou, M. Yu. Ivanov, Anne L’Huillier, and P. B. Corkum
Phys. Rev. A 49, 2117 – Published 1 March 1994
An article within the collection: Physical Review A 50th Anniversary Milestones
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Abstract

We present a simple, analytic, and fully quantum theory of high-harmonic generation by low-frequency laser fields. The theory recovers the classical interpretation of Kulander et al. in Proceedings of the SILAP III Works hop, edited by B. Piraux (Plenum, New York, 1993) and Corkum [Phys. Rev. Lett. 71, 1994 (1993)] and clearly explains why the single-atom harmonic-generation spectra fall off at an energy approximately equal to the ionization energy plus about three times the oscillation energy of a free electron in the field. The theory is valid for arbitrary atomic potentials and can be generalized to describe laser fields of arbitrary ellipticity and spectrum. We discuss the role of atomic dipole matrix elements, electron rescattering processes, and of depletion of the ground state. We present the exact quantum-mechanical formula for the harmonic cutoff that differs from the phenomenological law Ip+3.17Up, where Ip is the atomic ionization potential and Up is the ponderomotive energy, due to the account for quantum tunneling and diffusion effects.

  • Received 19 August 1993

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.49.2117

©1994 American Physical Society

Collections

This article appears in the following collection:

Physical Review A 50th Anniversary Milestones

The collection contains papers that have made important contributions to atomic, molecular, and optical physics and quantum information by announcing significant discoveries or by initiating new areas of research.

Authors & Affiliations

M. Lewenstein, Ph. Balcou, M. Yu. Ivanov, Anne L’Huillier, and P. B. Corkum

  • Joint Institute for Laboratory Astrophysics, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80309-0440
  • Service des Photons, Atomes et Molécules, Centre d’Etudes de Saclay, 91191 Gif sur Yvette, France
  • National Research Council of Canada, M-23A, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A OR6
  • Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, L-443, P.O. Box 5508, Livermore, California 94550

References

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Issue

Vol. 49, Iss. 3 — March 1994

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