Three-halves harmonic emission from femtosecond laser produced plasmas

Abstract

Measurements of three-halves harmonic radiation (3ω0/2) produced by femtosecond, Ti:sapphire laser pulses (⩽2×1017 W/cm2) in long density scale length plasmas generated from solid aluminum targets are presented. The 3ω0/2 emission yield shows excellent agreement with theories of the two-plasmon decay instability in the predominantly linear regime.