Open AccessQuantum path interferences of electron trajectories in two-center molecules
Author(s) -
Weifeng Yang,
Song Xia,
Zhinan Zhang,
Ruxin Li,
Zhizhan Xu
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.18.002558
Subject(s) - physics , attosecond , high harmonic generation , interference (communication) , electron , quantum , maxima and minima , time domain , optics , quantum mechanics , ultrashort pulse , laser , telecommunications , channel (broadcasting) , mathematical analysis , mathematics , computer science , computer vision
We report a new quantum path interference effect of electron trajectories in high-order harmonic generation (HHG) from two-center molecules, in which the interference minima are mainly located in the high-energy portion of HHG spectrum. The quantum calculations of the time-frequency analyses and the classical results of the electron trajectories demonstrate very good agreement and reveal that the positions of the interference minima are associated with the cutoff of various kinds of molecular electron trajectories. The interference fringes within a half optical cycle can be clearly seen in the time-frequency analysis spectrum. Moreover, the characteristics of both the HHG in frequency domain and the corresponding attosecond pulse generation in time domain permit tracing back the interference information of these electron trajectories. These interference phenomena offer new possibilities for getting insight into the attosecond electronic dynamics in molecules.