Relativistic surface-plasmon enhanced harmonic generation from gratings

TL;DR

This paper investigates how relativistic surface plasmons enhance high-order harmonic generation from laser-irradiated gratings, revealing significant intensity boosts and potential for monochromatic XUV pulse applications.

Contribution

It demonstrates, through particle-in-cell simulations, the role of relativistic surface plasmons in amplifying harmonic emission from grating targets, a novel insight into plasma-laser interactions.

Findings

Surface plasmons significantly enhance harmonic intensity.

Enhanced harmonics are emitted near the surface tangent direction.

Potential for generating monochromatic XUV pulses is identified.

Abstract

The role of relativistic surface plasmons (SPs) in high order harmonic emission from laser-irradiated grating targets has been investigated by means of particle-in-cell simulations. SP excitation drives a strong enhancement of the intensity of harmonics, particularly in the direction close to the surface tangent. The SP-driven enhancement overlaps with the angular separation of harmonics generated by the grating, which is beneficial for applications requiring monochromatic XUV pulses.