Orientation Dependence of High-Order Harmonic Generation from HeH2+ in a Corotating Two-Color Circularly Polarized Laser Field

Abstract

By numerically solving the time-dependent Schrödinger equation, we study high-order harmonic generation from the asymmetric diatomic molecule HeH2+ in a corotating two-color circularly polarized laser field. Our results reveal a strong correlation between the molecule orientation and the harmonic yield. The harmonics in the plateau region can achieve an intensity modulation of one to two orders of magnitude with the change in the orientation angle. Through the time-dependent evolution of ionized electron wave packets combined with the analysis of the transition dipole moment between the continuum and bound states, the modulation of the harmonic strength may be attributed to the difference in the recollision angle of ionized electron wave packets relative to the molecules. In addition, the harmonic ellipticity is also affected by the molecular orientation. Notably, we found that the harmonic with greater ellipticity and higher intensity can be obtained with an orientation angle of 147°. These findings open up new avenues for achieving enhanced efficiency, the near-circular polarization of harmonics, and precise control over harmonic polarization states.