High-order harmonic generation in an organic molecular crystal

Falk-Erik Wiechmann, Samuel Schöpa, Lina Bielke, Svenja Rindelhardt, Serguei Patchkovskii, Felipe Morales, Maria Richter, Dieter Bauer () and Franziska Fennel ()
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Falk-Erik Wiechmann: University of Rostock
Samuel Schöpa: University of Rostock
Lina Bielke: University of Rostock
Svenja Rindelhardt: University of Rostock
Serguei Patchkovskii: Max Born Institute
Felipe Morales: Max Born Institute
Maria Richter: Max Born Institute
Dieter Bauer: University of Rostock
Franziska Fennel: University of Rostock

Nature Communications, 2025, vol. 16, issue 1, 1-10

Abstract: Abstract High-order harmonic generation (HHG) is a powerful tool for probing electronic structure and ultrafast dynamics in matter. Traditionally studied in atomic and molecular gases, HHG has recently been extended to condensed matter, enabling all-optical investigations of electronic and crystal structures. Here, we experimentally demonstrate HHG in a new class of materials: thin organic molecular crystals with perfectly aligned molecules, using pentacene as a model system. Organic molecular crystals, characterized by weak intermolecular coupling, flat electronic bands, and large unit cells, differ fundamentally from conventional covalent or ionic crystals and have attracted significant interest as promising candidates for organic electronics. We show that pentacene crystals endure laser intensities sufficient for efficient HHG up to the 17th order. The harmonic yield as a function of laser polarization reveals a strong dependence on intermolecular interactions, with higher harmonic orders particularly sensitive to both nearest- and next-nearest-neighbor couplings. Model calculations indicate that weaker intermolecular interactions necessitate probing with higher harmonic orders to resolve the crystal structure. These findings suggest that HHG may serve as a powerful tool for probing the electronic structure of organic molecular crystals, enhancing all-optical techniques for studying electronic properties and ultrafast dynamics in complex organic materials.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-65975-7

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