High-order harmonic generation in alkanes

Journal Article · Sat Apr 15 00:00:00 EDT 2006 · Physical Review. A

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PHYSREVA.73.0· OSTI ID:20787129

Altucci, C; Velotta, R; Heesel, E; Springate, E; Marangos, J P; Vozzi, C; Benedetti, E; Calegari, F; Sansone, G; Stagira, S; Nisoli, M; Tosa, V ^[1]

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1. CNISM-Dipartimento di Scienze Fisiche, Universita di Napoli 'Federico II', Naples (Italy)

We have investigated the process of high-order harmonic generation in light alkanes by using femtosecond laser pulses. We show the experimental results cannot be matched by a model that assumes a single active electron only in a hydrogenic s orbital. Clear evidences are shown of the important role played by the p-like character originating from the covalent C-H bond. By constructing a suitable mixture of s-type and p-type atomic wave functions, an excellent agreement between measurements in methane and simulations is found, thus confirming the validity of the developed method as a general tool for the analysis of high-order harmonic generation in complex molecules.

• OSTI ID: 20787129
• Journal Information: Physical Review. A, Vol. 73, Issue 4; Other Information: DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevA.73.043411; (c) 2006 The American Physical Society; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 1050-2947
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS
CHEMICAL BONDS
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
COVALENCE
ELECTRONS
HARMONIC GENERATION
LASER RADIATION
METHANE
MIXTURES
MOLECULES
PHOTOIONIZATION
PHOTON-MOLECULE COLLISIONS
PULSES
VISIBLE RADIATION
WAVE FUNCTIONS