Laser second-harmonic generation from an overdense plasma slab

Abstract

AbstractA s-polarized short-pulse laser impinged obliquely on an overdense plasma slab is shown to produce very significant second harmonic in the direction of specular reflection and transmission. The laser induces a non-linear current on electrons, which is curl free. However, with sharp plasma boundary, it gives rise to electromagnetic radiation at the second harmonic. Our formalism includes multiple reflections of the incident and second-harmonic waves from both the front and rear surfaces. The present work includes finiteness of the slab. The normalized second-harmonic amplitude acquires a sharp peak at some specific angle of incidence for a particular set of parameters dependent on thickness of the slab and plasma density.