An experimental study is presented on harmonic generation from solid surfaces using 27 ps Nd:glass laser pulses $(\lambda =1053\mathrm{}\hspace{0.5em}\mathrm{nm})$ in the intensity range of ${10}^{13}–{10}^{15}\hspace{0.5em}{\mathrm{W}\mathrm{}\mathrm{cm}}^{-2}.$ Second, third, and fourth harmonics emitted in the specular reflection direction showed intensity scaling exponents of 1.5, 1.8, and 3.8 for an obliquely incident p-polarized laser beam, providing a conversion efficiency of $2\times {10}^{-8},$ ${10}^{-10},$ and $5\times {10}^{-12}$ at ${10}^{15}\hspace{0.5em}{\mathrm{W}\mathrm{}\mathrm{cm}}^{-2},$ respectively. Second and third harmonic radiation generated using an s-polarized pump was about 10 and 100 times smaller, respectively, compared to that for the p-polarized laser radiation. Faraday rotation observed in the reflected fundamental radiation can explain the relative harmonic yields for the p and s polarizations of the pump beam.

• Received 27 July 2000

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.63.026402