High-harmonic spectroscopy of low-energy electron-scattering dynamics in liquids
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Date
2024
Publication Type
Conference Paper
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yes
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Abstract
High-harmonic spectroscopy is an all-optical nonlinear technique with inherent attosecond temporal resolution. It has been applied to a variety of systems in the gas phase and solid state. Here we extend its use to liquid samples. By studying high-harmonic generation over a broad range of wavelengths and intensities, we show that the cut-off energy is independent of the wavelength beyond a threshold intensity and that it is a characteristic property of the studied liquid. We explain these observations with a semi-classical model based on electron trajectories that are limited by the electron scattering. This is further confirmed by measurements performed with elliptically polarized light and with ab-initio timedependent density functional theory calculations. Our results propose high-harmonic spectroscopy as an all-optical approach for determining the effective mean free paths of slow electrons in liquids. This regime is extremely difficult to access with other methodologies, but is critical for understanding radiation damage to living tissues. Our work also indicates the possibility of resolving subfemtosecond electron dynamics in liquids offering an all-optical approach to attosecond spectroscopy of chemical processes in their native liquid environment.
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published
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Book title
Advances in Ultrafast Condensed Phase Physics IV
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Volume
12992
Pages / Article No.
Publisher
SPIE
Event
SPIE Photonics Europe 2024
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Subject
high-harmonic generation; condensed-matter phase; liquids; ab initio simulation; time-dependent density functional theory