High-order optical harmonic generation as a process of single atom interaction with sub-relativistic single- and multicolor laser fields

Abstract

We present a non-perturbative theory of a single atom interaction with the multicolor laser field. The theory is based on the use of exact mathematical solutions of the boundary value problem for "an atom in the external field", as a result the case of arbitrary orientation of atomic angular momentum and electromagnetic wave polarization vector can be described in the consistent mathematical form. We also present the results of numerical simulations on silver and argon atoms interaction with single-and two-color laser fields formed by fundamental frequency and second harmonic of Ti:Sapphire laser. The results of numerical calculations show that the efficiency of high-order harmonic generation (HHG) depends strongly on the laser field parameters (especially on the orientation of polarization vectors and chirp of the two-color laser field components). We have demonstrated the saturation of the cut-off frequency in the laser fields of near-atomic strength and investigated the impact of the field phase in the case of ultrashort laser pulses.