Molecular high-order harmonic spectra and its application to the generation of the isolated attosecond pulse

J Mol Model. 2016 Dec;22(12):291. doi: 10.1007/s00894-016-3162-2. Epub 2016 Nov 21.

Abstract

Molecular high-order harmonic generation (HHG) spectra from H2+ and its application to the generation of the isolated attosecond pulses (IAPs) have been numerically investigated. Results show that (i) the 7th harmonic order is enhanced with the nuclei around the equilibrium internuclear, and as the internuclear distance increased, this enhanced harmonic produces a red-shift (even disappearance). Theoretical analyses show that the electronic transition between the ground and the 1st excited states is responsible for the red-shift enhanced harmonic. (ii) The harmonic spectra exhibit several maxima and minima, and a red-shift of these points is predicted as the internuclear distance increased. (iii) By properly choosing the internuclear distance, the harmonic yield is enhanced, and there is only the single quantum path contributing to the harmonic spectra. (iv) Further, by properly adding the half-cycle pulse as well as the spatial inhomogeneous effect, a 375 eV supercontinuum with a pulse enhancement of 3.9 dB and some attosecond X-ray pulses shorter than 60as can be produced.

Keywords: Attosecond pulse; Half-cycle pulse; Internuclear distance R; Molecular high-order harmonic spectra; Spatial inhomogeneous effect.