Inhomogeneous High-order Harmonic Generation in Krypton Clusters

TL;DR

This paper investigates high-order harmonic generation in krypton clusters, revealing a unique depolarized emission and a new recollisional mechanism, advancing understanding of cluster-specific nonlinear optical processes.

Contribution

It provides the first spectrally and spatially resolved analysis isolating cluster emission and uncovers a novel recollisional mechanism in high-order harmonic generation.

Findings

Cluster emission is depolarized, indicating statistical inhomogeneity.

A new recollisional mechanism is responsible for harmonic generation in clusters.

Spectral and spatial separation allows clear distinction between monomer and cluster contributions.

Abstract

High order harmonic generation from clusters is a controversial topic: conflicting theories exist, with different explanations for similar experimental observations. From an experimental point of view, separating the contributions from monomers and clusters is challenging. By performing a spectrally and spatially resolved study in a controlled mixture of clusters and monomers, we are able to isolate a region of the spectrum where the emission purely originates from clusters. Surpringly, the emission from clusters is depolarized, which is the signature of statistical inhomogeneous emission from a low-density source. The harmonic response to laser ellipticity shows that this generation is produced by a new recollisional mechanism, which opens the way to future theoretical studies.