Harmonic generation in a UV laser plasma

Second and third harmonic generation in the interaction of a prepulse-free 700-fs, 248-nm laser pulse with solid targets was observed for maximum intensities of /spl sim/5.10/sup 15/ W/cm/sup 2/. Both s- and p-polarized light generated harmonic emission without observable difference. Harmonic generation was shown to prefer the specular direction. The results showed short-pulse ultraviolet lasers to be efficient drivers of harmonics in the vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) and extreme ultraviolet (XUV) range.