Molecular Imaging Using High-Order Harmonic Generation and Above-Threshold Ionization

Elmar V. van der Zwan and Manfred Lein
Phys. Rev. Lett. 108, 043004 – Published 25 January 2012
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Abstract

Accurate molecular imaging via high-order harmonic generation relies on comparing harmonic emission from a laser-irradiated molecule and an adequate reference system. However, an ideal reference atom with the same ionization properties as the molecule is not always available. We show that for suitably designed, very short laser pulses, a one-to-one mapping from high-order harmonic frequencies to electron momenta in above-threshold ionization exists. Comparing molecular and atomic momentum distributions then provides the electron recollision amplitude in the molecule for enhanced molecular imaging. The method retrieves the molecular recombination transition moments highly accurately, even with suboptimal reference atoms.

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  • Received 24 July 2011

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.108.043004

© 2012 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

Elmar V. van der Zwan1,2 and Manfred Lein1

  • 1Institut für Theoretische Physik and Centre for Quantum Engineering and Space-Time Research (QUEST), Leibniz Universität Hannover, Appelstraße 2, D-30167 Hannover, Germany
  • 2Institut für Physik, Universität Kassel, Heinrich-Plett-Straße 40, D-31432 Kassel, Germany

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Issue

Vol. 108, Iss. 4 — 27 January 2012

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