Generation of optical harmonics and frequency mixing in a low-temperature plasma of optical breakdown

Abstract

We present results of experiments on generation of optical harmonics and sum-frequency radiation in a low-temperature laser-produced plasma. A plasma of optical breakdown is shown to be a prospective nonlinear medium for producing coherent short-wavelength radiation via harmonic generation and frequency mixing. We discuss experimental data on generation of third, fifth, seventh, and ninth harmonics of Nd:YAG-laser radiation, as well as processes of nonlinear frequency mixing.