Ab-initio calculations of laser-atom interactions reveal harmonics feedback during macroscopic propagation

Abstract

We couple the full 3D ab initio quantum evolution of the light pulse polarization in interaction with an atom with a propagation model to simulate the propagation of ultrashort laser pulses over macroscopic dimensions, in the presence of self-generated harmonics up to order 11. We evidence a clear feedback of the generated harmonics on propagation, with an influence on the ionization probability as well as the yield of the harmonic generation itself.

9 pages, 4 figures

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