Elliptic Dichroism, Ellipticity and the Offset Angle
of High Harmonics Generated by Arbitrary Homonuclear
Diatomic Molecules¹

S. Odak^a, * and D. B. Milosevi^{a, b, c,} **

^a Faculty of Science, University of Sarajevo, Zmaja od Bosne 35, 71000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

^b Max-Born-Institut, Max-Born-Str. 2a, 12489 Berlin, Germany

^c Academy of Sciences and Arts of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bosnia and Herzegovina

*e-mail: senad.odzak@gmail.com
**e-mail: milo@bih.net.ba

Received October 8, 2011; published online November 1, 2012

Abstract—The n th harmonic emission rate has contributions of the components of the T-matrix element in the
direction of the laser-field polarization and in the direction perpendicular to it. Using both components of the
T-matrix element we present a theoretical approach for calculation of the ellipticity and the offset angle of high
harmonics. The molecular bound state is represented by HOMO or by HOMO-1. We show that high harmonics,
generated by molecules oriented by an angle _L with respect to the major semiaxis of the laser-field polarization
ellipse, are elliptically polarized even if the applied field is linearly polarized. Using examples of N₂ and O₂
molecules we show the existence of extrema and sudden changes of the harmonic ellipticity and the offset angle
for particular molecular alignment. The interference between different contributions to the T-matrix element
depends on the molecular symmetry. Presenting partial or total parameters of elliptic dichroism in the (_L, n)
plane clear interference minima are observed. Therefore, the measurement of the elliptic dichroism may reveal
information about the molecular structure and symmetry.

10.1134/S1054660X12120225

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