High-order harmonic generation enhanced by XUV light: erratum.

This erratum to our Letter [Opt. Lett.36, 3530 (2011)10.1364/OL.36.003530] corrects minor errors. The computations are expected to be minorly influenced, and the conclusions of the original Letter are not affected.

Ultrafast absorption of intense x rays by nitrogen molecules.

We devise a theoretical description for the response of nitrogen molecules (N(2)) to ultrashort and intense x rays from the free electron laser Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS). We set out from a rate-equation description for the x-ray absorption by a nitrogen atom. The equations are formulated using all one-x-ray-photon absorption cross sections and the Auger and radiative decay widths of multiply-ionized nitrogen atoms. Cross sections are obtained with a one-electron theory and decay widths are determined from ab initio computations using the Dirac-Hartree-Slater (DHS) method. We also calculate all binding and transition energies of nitrogen atoms in all charge states with the DHS method as the difference of two self-consistent field (SCF) calculations (ΔSCF method). To describe the interaction with N(2), a detailed investigation of intense x-ray-induced ionization and molecular fragmentation are carried out. As a figure of merit, we calculate ion yields and the average charge state measured in recent experiments at the LCLS. We use a series of phenomenological models of increasing sophistication to unravel the mechanisms of the interaction of x rays with N(2): a single atom, a symmetric-sharing model, and a fragmentation-matrix model are developed. The role of the formation and decay of single and double core holes, the metastable states of N(2)(2+), and molecular fragmentation are explained.

High-order harmonic generation enhanced by XUV light.

The combination of high-order harmonic generation (HHG) with resonant XUV excitation of a core electron into the transient valence vacancy that is created in the course of the HHG process is investigated theoretically. In this setup, the first electron performs a HHG three-step process, whereas the second electron Rabi flops between the core and the valence vacancy. The modified HHG spectrum due to recombination with the valence and the core is determined and analyzed for krypton on the 3d→4p resonance in the ion. We assume an 800 nm laser with an intensity of about 10(14) W/cm2 and XUV radiation from the Free Electron Laser in Hamburg (FLASH) with an intensity in the range 10(13)-10(16)W cm2. Our prediction opens perspectives for nonlinear XUV physics, attosecond x rays, and HHG-based spectroscopy involving core orbitals.

Rotational molecular dynamics of laser-manipulated bromotrifluoromethane studied by x-ray absorption.

We present a computational study of the rotational molecular dynamics of bromotrifluoromethane (CF(3)Br) molecules in gas phase. The rotation is manipulated with an off-resonant 800 nm laser. The molecules are treated as rigid rotors. Frequently, we use a computationally efficient linear rotor model for CF(3)Br, which we compare with selected results for full symmetric-rotor computations. The expectation value (cos(2) theta)(t) is discussed. Especially, the transition from impulsive to adiabatic alignment, the temperature dependence of the maximally achievable alignment, and its intensity dependence are investigated. In a next step, we examine resonant x-ray absorption as an accurate tool to study laser manipulation of molecular rotation. Specifically, we investigate the impact of the x-ray pulse duration on the signal (particularly its temporal resolution) and study the temperature dependence of the achievable absorption. Most importantly, we demonstrated that using picosecond x-ray pulses, one can accurately measure the expectation value (cos(2) theta)(t) for impulsively aligned CF(3)Br molecules. We point out that a control of the rotational dynamics opens up a novel way to imprint shapes onto long x-ray pulses on a picosecond time scale. For our computations, we determine the dynamic polarizability tensor of CF(3)Br using ab initio molecular linear-response theory in conjunction with wave function models of increasing sophistication: Coupled-cluster singles (CCS), second-order approximate coupled-cluster singles and doubles (CC2), and coupled-cluster singles and doubles (CCSD).

Electromagnetically induced transparency for x rays.

Electromagnetically induced transparency is predicted for x rays in laser-dressed neon gas. The x-ray photoabsorption cross section and polarizability near the Ne K edge are calculated using an ab initio theory suitable for optical strong-field problems. The laser wavelength is tuned close to the transition between 1s(-1)3s and 1s(-1)3p approximately 800 nm). The minimum laser intensity required to observe electromagnetically induced transparency is of the order of 10(12) W/cm(2). The ab initio results are discussed in terms of an exactly solvable three-level model. This work opens new opportunities for research with ultrafast x-ray sources.

Quantum state-resolved probing of strong-field-ionized xenon atoms using femtosecond high-order harmonic transient absorption spectroscopy.

Femtosecond high-order harmonic transient absorption spectroscopy is used to resolve the complete |j,m quantum state distribution of Xe+ produced by optical strong-field ionization of Xe atoms at 800 nm. Probing at the Xe N4/5 edge yields a population distribution rhoj,|m| of rho3/2,1/2ratiorho1/2,1/2ratiorho3/2,3/2=75+/-6 :12+/-3 :13+/-6%. The result is compared to a tunnel ionization calculation with the inclusion of spin-orbit coupling, revealing nonadiabatic ionization behavior. The sub-50-fs time resolution paves the way for tabletop extreme ultraviolet absorption probing of ultrafast dynamics.

Quasiparticle band structure of infinite hydrogen fluoride and hydrogen chloride chains.

We study the quasiparticle band structure of isolated, infinite (HF)(infinity) and (HCl)(infinity) bent (zigzag) chains and examine the effect of the crystal field on the energy levels of the constituent monomers. The chains are one of the simplest but realistic models of the corresponding three-dimensional crystalline solids. To describe the isolated monomers and the chains, we set out from the Hartree-Fock approximation, harnessing the advanced Green's function methods local molecular orbital algebraic diagrammatic construction (ADC) scheme and local crystal orbital ADC (CO-ADC) in a strict second order approximation, ADC(2,2) and CO-ADC(2,2), respectively, to account for electron correlations. The configuration space of the periodic correlation calculations is found to converge rapidly only requiring nearest-neighbor contributions to be regarded. Although electron correlations cause a pronounced shift of the quasiparticle band structure of the chains with respect to the Hartree-Fock result, the bandwidth essentially remains unaltered in contrast to, e.g., covalently bound compounds.