Material-specific high-order harmonic generation in laser-produced plasmas for varying plasma dynamics

Abstract

AbstractWe present a new experimental setup for high-order harmonic generation in laser-produced plasmas, allowing the generation of coherent VUV and EUV light, as well as characterisation of the laser-produced plasmas by studying the emitted harmonics. We have successfully generated high-order harmonics in laser-produced Al, Ni, Ag, In, and Sn plasmas. Large differences in harmonic spectra and signal yields have been observed for these different targets. Harmonics up to order 25, corresponding to a wavelength of 62.4 nm and photon energy of 19.9 eV, have been measured with tin plasmas. Scanning laser parameters and delay between pump and fundamental laser pulses allows us to optimise the harmonic yield and observe the temporal dynamics of the laser-produced tin plasma.