Study on Higher order Harmonic

Generations and Ultra-short laser Pulses

By,
Ajmal Ansari
TSO(16th batch)
Guided by,
Dr. J. A. Chakera

Outline of the talk

Coherent radiation
Coherent radiation in XUV range
Theory of High-order Harmonic Generation (HHG)
Future plan

Coherent Radiation
In a wave if there is a constant phase relationship between two points
separated in space/time the wave is said to have spatial/temporal
coherence.
Lasers are the good sources of coherent radiation in visible/IR spectral region
and also have the other features like, monochromaticity, directionality etc.
Generation of coherent radiation at shorter wavelengths is an active area of
research due to their applications in various fields.

Advantages of Coherent Radiation at shorter

wavelength:
Pulses of short pulse duration (sub femtosecond)
High spatial resolution.
Probe for plasma of higher density.

Coherent radiation in XUV range

Non-linear crystals are used to produce coherent radiations of
shorter wavelength by the generation of harmonics of intense
laser pulses.
Non-linear crystal has limitations on the minimum wavelength
(<200 nm) due to the strong absorption of radiation inside the
crystal.
Under-dense plasma is used to produce higher order harmonics by
its interaction with intense ultra-short laser pulses.
These generated harmonics are of the order of 100 th of multiple of
laser frequency, so wavelengths comes in the soft x-ray region.
The phenomena is known as Higher order Harmonic Generation
(HHG).

Theory of High-order Harmonic Generation (HHG)

HHG can be understood from a semi-classical model or three step model.

Step 1: Tunnelling
ionization
Recombination
Harmonic Emission

Step 2:Propagation

Ip

Propagation
Tunnelling
ionization

Step
3:Recombination

Theory of High-order Harmonic Generation (HHG)

Kinetic energy of the electron, E kin upon recombination
Ekin(r) = 2Up (sin r sin i)2
Energy of the photon emitted upon recombination is
h = Ekin(r) + Ip
Ip : Ionization potential of the atom
Up : Ponderomotive energy
r : Recombination phase
i : Emission phase
Ekin(r) takes the maximum value 3.17Up at i

180

Theory of High-order Harmonic Generation (HHG)

3.17

18

Schematic of Higher Harmonic Generation

Experiment from Plasma Plumes

Future plan:
Understanding the mechanism of HHG:
Quantum mechanical model.
Understanding the methods to generate ultra-short laser pulse:
Chirp pulse amplification method.
Characterization of ultra-short laser pulse:
Autocorrelation methods.

THANK YOU