High-harmonic generation driven by temporal-mode quantum states of light

• URL: http://arxiv.org/abs/2512.06602v1
• Date: Sun, 07 Dec 2025 00:04:46 GMT
• Title: High-harmonic generation driven by temporal-mode quantum states of light
• Authors: Juan M. González-Monge, Johannes Feist,
• Abstract summary: We develop a theoretical framework for high-harmonic generation driven by quantum states of light based on a temporal-mode expansion of the electromagnetic field.<n>We show that free-space HHG driven by any quantum state of light is accurately described by averaging semi-classical calculations.<n>We discuss nanophotonic environments with ultrasmall mode volumes as potential platforms where few-photon strong-field processes could exhibit genuine quantum signatures.
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• License: http://arxiv.org/licenses/nonexclusive-distrib/1.0/
• Abstract: We develop a theoretical framework for high-harmonic generation (HHG) driven by quantum states of light based on a temporal-mode expansion of the electromagnetic field. This approach extends previous single plane-wave mode treatments to realistic pulse configurations, resolving conceptual inconsistencies arising from non-normalizable infinite plane waves and establishing consistency between analytical and numerical methods. We derive a correction factor that quantifies deviations from the single-mode approximation and show that it remains below $10^{-4}$ for intensities typical of HHG ($\sim 10^{14}~$W/cm$^2$). This result confirms that free-space HHG driven by any quantum state of light is accurately described by averaging semi-classical calculations over the Husimi distribution, with no observable genuine quantum effects. The absence of such effects is attributed to the large photon numbers ($\sim 10^{11}$) required to reach HHG intensities in free space, which render quantum fluctuations negligible. We discuss nanophotonic environments with ultrasmall mode volumes as potential platforms where few-photon strong-field processes could exhibit genuine quantum signatures.

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