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Subcycle dynamics of electron–hole pairs and high-harmonic generation in bulk diamond subjected to intense femtosecond laser pulse

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Abstract

We present calculation of photoexcitation and high-harmonic generation in bulk diamond induced by intense near-infrared laser pulse of photon energy 1.55 eV, time duration of 15 fs and peak field strength \(F= 0.4\) V/Å. Depending on the laser polarization direction, the pulsed irradiation creates electron–hole pairs and transient density fluctuations in a localized region of the crystal momentum space. As a consequence energetic inter- and intra-band harmonics are generated with alternating phase during each half-cycle of the driving pulse. The corresponding inter- and intra-band currents are in definite phase relation with the laser pulse, reflecting the build-up of coherent superposition of population between valence and conduction bands, and the accelerated motion of charge carriers in their respective bands.

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Acknowledgements

This work is supported by the Bulgarian National Science Fund under Contracts No. DFNI-E02/6, No. DNTS/FRANCE-01/9, No. DN-18/ 7 and No. DN-18/11 (T.A.) and by the Bulgarian National Science Fund under Contract No. 08-17 (B.O.).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Nuclear Research and Nuclear Energy, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Tsarigradsko chausseé 72, 1784, Sofia, Bulgaria

    Tzveta Apostolova & Boyan Obreshkov

  2. Institute for Advanced Physical Studies, New Bulgarian University, 1618, Sofia, Bulgaria

    Tzveta Apostolova

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  1. Tzveta Apostolova
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  2. Boyan Obreshkov
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Correspondence to Tzveta Apostolova.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Focus on Optics and Bio-photonics, Photonica 2017.

Guest Edited by Jelena Radovanovic, Aleksandar Krmpot, Marina Lekic, Trevor Benson, Mauro Pereira, Marian Marciniak.

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Apostolova, T., Obreshkov, B. Subcycle dynamics of electron–hole pairs and high-harmonic generation in bulk diamond subjected to intense femtosecond laser pulse. Opt Quant Electron 50, 408 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11082-018-1666-y

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