Higher harmonics and supercontinuum generated from the Kerr response time in different states of matter from a universal electromagnetic model

Abstract

Abstract There is a need for a universal model to describe higher harmonic generation (HHG) in different states of matter. Based on an electromagnetic model (EM), the generation of odd higher harmonic (HHG) and supercontinuum (SC) from intense fs and ps pulses for visible, NIR, and MIR lasers is simulated based on the parameters from experimental observation. HHG and SC depend critically on the different Kerr material response times τ from the ultrafast on the order of 100 as for electronic cloud distortion to fast ~ 10 fs from plasma and molecular redistribution and to the slower picoseconds rotational and vibrational molecular processes. The number of odd HHG generated is shown to depend critically on the fastest Kerr response time on the order of ~ 1 fs from electronic self-phase modulation (ESPM). In this study, different states of matter from noble gas Argon to condensed matter ZnO and LBG are simulated showing the dependence on the Kerr response time to produce HHG for various applications in Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Engineering. The EM model is universal to produce HHG and SC in different states of matter.