Quantum theory of the competition between multiphoton ionization and third-harmonic generation

A quantum-mechanical formulation for the generation of third-harmonic radiation in an atomic medium undergoing three-photon resonant multiphoton ionization is given. The generation of the third harmonic is treated as a cooperative emission and its pressure dependence is shown to be in agreement with experiments. The formulation is general enough to include both transient and steady-state phenomena and includes both traveling-wave and standing-wave cases. A comparison of the results of the present theory with those of Jackson and Wynne is given