Extension of high harmonic spectroscopy in molecules by a 1300 nm laser field

The emerging techniques of molecular spectroscopy by high order harmonic generation have hitherto been conducted only with Ti:Sapphire lasers which are restricted to molecules with high ionization potentials. In order to gain information on the molecular structure, a broad enough range of harmonics is required. This implies using high laser intensities which would saturate the ionization of most molecular systems of interest, e. g. organic molecules. Using a laser at 1300 nm, we are able to extend the technique to molecules with relatively low ionization potentials (similar to 11 eV), observing wide harmonic spectra reaching up to 60 eV. This energy range improves spatial resolution of the high harmonic spectroscopy to the point where interference minima in harmonic spectra of N2O and C2H2 can be observed. (C) 2010 Optical Society of America