Circularly polarized high harmonic generation through virtual circular birefringence

We suggest a macroscopic scheme for generating circularly polarized high harmonics. The scheme uses a superposition of circularly polarized pump beams with different spatial modes, realizing a perturbed linearly polarized field which rotates along the propagation axis due to virtual circular birefringence. This method provides a spectral selectivity for the harmonic orders which are generated efficiently and for their spacing. The scheme is investigated numerically with a good agreement with the theory. Published under an exclusive license by AIP Publishing.

Automated summary

A macroscopic scheme for generating circularly polarized high harmonics is proposed, using a superposition of circularly polarized pump beams with different spatial modes. This scheme provides spectral selectivity for efficiently generated harmonic orders and their spacing, and has been numerically investigated with good agreement with theory. Published under an exclusive license by AIP Publishing.