Population Dynamics of Ground State Sublevels: Influence on Polarization Properties of High Harmonics

Abstract

Within the framework of the non-perturbative light–atom interaction theory, we consider the population dynamics of the ground-state sublevels corresponding to the different values of the orbital quantum number (l) projections and its influence on the high optical harmonics. We study the problem of high optical harmonics generation in two geometries: (1) two linearly polarized fields at frequencies ω and 2ω for different angles of azimuthal projection difference and arbitrary orientation with respect to the angular momentum of the atom direction; (2) two elliptically polarized fields at frequencies ω and 2ω rotating in opposite directions with variable mutual ellipticity. We show that the unequal population dynamics of the levels with different projections of the atom angular momentum (magnetic quantum number) has a significant impact on the value of the ellipticity of the generated radiation.