Proposal for High-Energy Cutoff Extension of Optical Harmonics of Solid Materials Using the Example of a One-Dimensional ZnO Crystal.

Abstract

We propose a novel approach based on the subcycle injection of carriers to extend the high-energy cutoff in solid-state high harmonics. The mechanism is first examined by employing the standard single-cell semiconductor Bloch equation (SC SBE) method for one-dimensional (1D) Mathieu potential model for ZnO subjected to the intense linearly polarized midinfrared laser field and extreme-ultraviolet pulse. Then, we use coupled solution of Maxwell propagation equation and SC SBE to propagate the fundamental laser field through the sample, and find that the high-harmonics pulse train from the entrance section of the sample can inject carriers to the conduction bands with attosecond timing, subsequently leading to a dramatic extension of high-energy cutoff in harmonics from the backside. We predict that for a peak intensity at 2×10^{11} W/cm^{2}, as a result of the self-seeding, the high-energy cutoff shifts from 20th (7.75eV) order to around 50th (19.38eV) order harmonics.