A unified perspective of high-harmonic generation in gases and solids

Abstract: We present a quantum optical generalization of the quantum-matter Lewenstein model of high-harmonic generation (HHG) in gases that contains two channels corresponding to the inter- and intraband HHG in solids. Both channels can be presented as a semiclassical current multiplied by the vacuum field strength, resulting in a quantitative correction and a faster roll-off of the harmonic power with order than in previous theories. In gases, like in solids, intraband HHG dominates at low orders; the switchover harmonic corresponds to a specific photon energy, independent of pump wavelength.