Trajectory Selection in High Harmonic Generation by Controlling the Phase between Orthogonal Two-Color Fields

Abstract

We demonstrate control of short and long quantum trajectories in high harmonic emission through the use of an orthogonally polarized two-color field. By controlling the relative phase $\ensuremath{\phi}$ between the two fields we show via classical and quantum calculations that we can steer the two-dimensional trajectories to return, or not, to the core and so control the relative strength of the short or long quantum trajectory contribution. In experiments, we demonstrate that this leads to robust control over the trajectory contributions using a drive field from a femtosecond laser composed of the fundamental $\ensuremath{\omega}$ at 800 nm (intensity $\ensuremath{\sim}1.2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{14}\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{W}\text{ }{\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}2}$) and its weaker orthogonally polarized second harmonic $2\ensuremath{\omega}$ (intensity $\ensuremath{\sim}0.3\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{14}\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{W}\text{ }{\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}2}$) with the relative phase between the $\ensuremath{\omega}$ and $2\ensuremath{\omega}$ fields varied simply by tilting a fused silica plate. This is the first demonstration of short and long quantum trajectory control at the single-atom level.