Wätzel J., and Berakdar J.

We study theoretically the electron quantum dynamics in atoms driven by intense IR laser pulses that are phase and/or polarization structured. The extremely non-linear electron dynamics causes high harmonic emission, which we calculate, analyze, and characterize. Results are presented for three different types of structured lasers: radially polarized and azimuthally polarized beams and optical skyrmions. We identify a topological index that is inherent to the driving pulse topology and is taken over by the high harmonics. All harmonics are found to have the same topological index. For vector IR pulses as driving fields, the far-field emitted beam tightens with a higher topological order and remains unchanged when the atom is driven by an optical skyrmion.

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