Efficient attosecond pulse generation from WS2 semiconductor by tailoring the driving laser pulse

High harmonic generation in semiconductor materials with ultra-short pulses of the femtosecond order provides a promising approach to generate attosecond pulses and control the electron dynamics. In this study, an accurate time dependent density functional theory model describing high-order harmonic generation in WS2 bulk is investigated. The effect of driving laser specifications such as ellipticity and chirp rate on producing attosecond pulse is studied. The results show that using a nonlinearly chirped laser can lead to generation of harmonics up to 50 eV, and consequently, production of an attosecond pulse with duration of 440 as. Moreover, a two-color chirped driving laser is proposed which is capable of increasing harmonics up to 63 eV with a slight decrease in the intensity, and reducing the output attosecond pulse duration to 310 as. Our results offer a valuable route towards development of solid-state high harmonic generation spectroscopy and high-performance attosecond source applications.

Automated summary

This study investigates high harmonic generation in semiconductor materials using an accurate time dependent density functional theory model. The effect of driving laser parameters on generating attosecond pulses is examined. The results demonstrate that nonlinearly chirped lasers can generate high-energy harmonics and produce short-duration attosecond pulses.