Open AccessWigner function analysis of high harmonic generation in atoms
Author(s) -
D. Wells,
Harry M. Quiney
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
journal of physics communications
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.407
H-Index - 17
ISSN - 2399-6528
DOI - 10.1088/2399-6528/abd10d
Subject(s) - wigner distribution function , wave function , harmonic analysis , phase space , function (biology) , schrödinger equation , physics , harmonic , high harmonic generation , quantum mechanics , harmonic oscillator , classical mechanics , quantum , statistical physics , laser , mathematics , mathematical analysis , evolutionary biology , biology
The Wigner function provides the expression of phase space dynamics in quantum mechanics. In an application to non-linear optics, we describe its construction from time-dependent wavefunctions generated by numerical simulations, performed in both one and three dimensions, of the interaction of atoms with strong laser fields. From this analysis, the elements of the semi-classical three-step model of high-harmonic generation are extracted directly from the solution of the time-dependent Schrödinger equation. It is demonstrated that information contained in the Wigner function that is not relevant to this analysis may be removed by spatial filtering and state-projection operations.