For the analysis of high-order harmonics generated in a long gas jet by intense chirped femtosecond laser pulses, calculations of the laser propagation and harmonic generation were performed in terms of a nonadiabatic three-dimensional model. The self-guided propagation, observed at the conditions of bright harmonic generation, was confirmed by the model calculations. When using negatively chirped pulses, the calculated distribution of the harmonic field is spatially and spectrally confined, being generated on axis with a narrow spectral profile. The positively chirped pulses generate broad spectral distribution on axis, and narrow off axis, but in the latter case with a large emission angle. The estimation of harmonic beam divergence agreed well with experimentally measured data, showing the lowest divergence at the conditions of the brightest harmonic generation. Spectral, temporal, and spatial modifications of the propagated laser pulse are found to influence decisively the single-atom response and ultimately the harmonic field, providing a coherent picture of harmonic generation.

• Received 21 October 2004

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.71.063807