Abstract

The generation of coherent, soft x-ray radiation through the production of high-order harmonics in a gas has been well studied. As a result, much of the effort in studying this phenomena has turned to optimizing the harmonics characteristics and yields. One potential approach to enhancing harmonic yields is to use a gas composed of molecules as opposed to a gas of monomer atoms, exploiting a potentially higher polarizability in molecules. Initial studies of harmonic generation with diatomic molecules indicate that the high harmonics behave in a manner similar to harmonics produced in monatomic gases with a similar ionization potential.¹ Studies of harmonics produced in organic molecules have yielded a similar result.²

© 1996 Optical Society of America