High-field harmonic generation in helium

Abstract

We observe harmonics of 526-nm laser light up to the 45th order, 11.7 nm, in helium. We discuss the extension of the harmonic plateau with increasing laser intensity. The data suggest that the highest harmonic order produced depends on the highest intensity seen by the atom before photoionization. Harmonics are generated predominantly from neutrals. Harmonic generation from ions is weak owing to poor phase matching between the fundamental and harmonic fields at high electron densities.