Generation of attosecond pulses in molecular nitrogen

Wabnitz, H., Mairesse, Y., Frasinski, L. J., Stankiewicz, M., Boutu, W., Breger, P., Johnsson, P., Merdji, H., Monchicourt, P., Salieres, P., Varju, K., Vitteau, M. and Carre, B. (2006) Generation of attosecond pulses in molecular nitrogen. European Physical Journal D, 40 (2). pp. 305-311. ISSN 1434-6060

Abstract/Summary

We have generated attosecond pulse trains in an ensemble of randomly aligned nitrogen molecules. Measurements of the high-order harmonic relative phases and amplitudes allow us to reconstruct the temporal profile of the attosecond pulses. We show that in the considered spectral range, the latter is very similar to the pulse train generated in argon under the same conditions. We discuss the possible influence of the molecular structure in the generation process, and how it can induce subtle differences on the relative phases.