Molecular Recollision Interferometry in High Harmonic Generation

Abstract

We use extreme-ultraviolet interferometry to measure the phase of high-order harmonic generation from transiently aligned CO2 molecules. We unambiguously observe a reversal in phase of the high order harmonic emission for higher harmonic orders with a sufficient degree of alignment. This results from molecular-scale quantum interferences between the molecular electronic wave function and the recolliding electron as it recombines with the molecule, and is consistent with a two-center model. Furthermore, using the combined harmonic intensity and phase information, we extract accurate information on the dispersion relation of the returning electron wavepacket as a function of harmonic order. This analysis shows evidence of the effect of the molecular potential on the recolliding electron wave.