Depth-resolved subcycle dynamics of photoionization in solids
Abstract
We develop a theoretical framework for the analysis of ultrafast dynamics of photoionization in solids that treats the electron density buildup resolved within the field cycle jointly with the propagation dynamics of the laser driver. We show that while the standard, cycle-averaging photoionization models predict a monotonic buildup of the electron density within the driver pulse, the cycle-resolved photoionization model used in this work reveals a subcycle modulation of optical properties of a solid, giving rise to complex patterns of reflected and transmitted fields and providing a source for optical harmonic generation. Propagation effects are shown to heavily distort the spectra of high-order harmonics. Still, the analysis of harmonic spectra and the temporal structure of the harmonic field reveals physically significant properties of the nonlinear-optical response, suggesting the existence of attosecond bursts of interband optical-harmonic emission.
- Publication:
-
Physical Review A
- Pub Date:
- September 2017
- DOI:
- 10.1103/PhysRevA.96.033415
- Bibcode:
- 2017PhRvA..96c3415Z