Observation of high-order harmonic generation in a bulk crystal

Abstract

Harmonic generation is a general feature of driven nonlinear systems. In particular high-order harmonic generation (HHG) in atomic gases 1 is the basis for producing attosecond pulses 2,3 . In molecules and clusters, the existence of multiple ionization and recombination sites makes for richer dynamics allowing imaging of molecular orbitals 4,5 , higher conversion efficiency 6 and the possibility of extending the high-energy cutoff 7 . In the strong-field limit, HHG in bulk crystals is fundamentally different from that in the atomic case owing to the high density and periodic structure. Here we present the first observation of HHG in a bulk crystalline solid using a long-wavelength few-cycle laser. The harmonics spectra extend well beyond the band edge of the ZnO crystal, show a clear non-perturbative character and exhibit a cutoff that scales linearly with the electric field of the drive laser. Our results have important implications for the understanding of attosecond electron dynamics and other non-equilibrium band-structure-related phenomena in strongly driven bulk solids.The HHG spectrum from a gas typically comprises a region of rapidly decreasing low orders that scale perturbatively followed by a slowly varying succession of higher orders that scale nonperturbatively with the strength of the drive laser 1 . At the tunnelling limit of strong-field ionization 8 , the non-perturbative harmonic generation process has been described semiclassically in a recollision model 9,10 consisting of three steps: tunnel ionization of an electron, its acceleration in the laser field, and its recombination to the parent ion with an energy release in the form of higher-energy photons-a coherent process that occurs on successive half-cycles of the laser pulse, leading to emission of odd harmonics. The single-atom maximum photon energy is 9,11h ω max = I p + 3.2U p , where I p is the ionization potential and U p = e 2 E 2 λ 2 /16π 2 mc 2 is the ponderomotive energy of the electron in the laser field. The amplitude of the maximum excursion of a recolliding electron is r max = eEλ 2 /4π 2 mc 2 . For the conditions of our experiments, E = 0.6 V Å −1 at λ = 3.25 µm, the atomic case would be U p = 5 eV and r max = 32 Å. The latter is many times the lattice constant of a typical crystal. Thus, we expect the possibility of ionization from one site and recombination on another; however, because of the lattice periodicity the process would still be coherent. We note that at this field strength, the potential across a lattice constant is comparable to the bandgap of a typical insulator. Therefore, the field cannot be thought of as a small perturbation to the crystal. The non-perturbative HHG from bulk crystals has been considered theoretically 12-14 but has never been observed experimentally until now.Previously, experimental observation of non-perturbative HHG in solids was only in reflection geometry [15][16][17][18] perturbative harmonics below the band edge up to the seventh order were produced by exciting semiconducting ZnSe with...

Anisotropic high-harmonic generation in bulk crystals

“…We find that harmonic e ciency is enhanced (diminished) for semi-classical electron trajectories that connect (avoid) neighbouring atomic sites in the crystal. These results indicate the possibility of using materials' own electrons for retrieving the interatomic potential and thus the valence electron density, and perhaps even wavefunctions, in an all-optical setting.High-harmonic generation (HHG) in bulk crystal is attributed to the sub-cycle electronic motion driven by an intense laser field [2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11] . There has been a growing interest in utilizing HHG to probe the electronic structure of solids 8,9,11 .…”

“…High-harmonic generation (HHG) in bulk crystal is attributed to the sub-cycle electronic motion driven by an intense laser field [2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11] . There has been a growing interest in utilizing HHG to probe the electronic structure of solids 8,9,11 .…”

Strong-field polarization-state control of higher harmonics generated in crystalline solids

“…Since its first observation by Ghimire et al [1], the physics underlying high-harmonic generation (HHG) in solids has extensively been investigated (for a comprehensive review, see [2]). Recent studies have, for example, demonstrated isolated attosecond XUV pulses emitted from thin SiO 2 films [3], HHG from amorphous fused silica [4], graphene (enhanced by driving ellipticity) [5], or 2D transition metal dichalcogenides [5,6].…”

Correction

“…High-harmonic emission in solids has been a vibrant area of research since it was shown that the excitation of crystals by a strong, longwavelength electromagnetic field generates radiation at high-harmonic frequencies of the driving field's fundamental frequency 5,6 . The strong-field physics of individual atoms in the gas phase is well understood, but the different scaling of the maximum harmonic frequency with the strength of the incident field in solids had hinted at different underlying processes 5 .…”

“…The strong-field physics of individual atoms in the gas phase is well understood, but the different scaling of the maximum harmonic frequency with the strength of the incident field in solids had hinted at different underlying processes 5 . However, a recent comparative study 7 found that some aspects of the gas-physics picture apply to solids too, such as the importance of controlling the electrons' pathways so as to generate high-harmonic radiation.…”