Brunel harmonics generated from ionizing clusters by few-cycle laser pulses

We study theoretically harmonic generation from ionizing nano-clusters irradiated by intense few-cycle laser pulses and identify a Brunel-type harmonic generation mechanism that originates from subcycle ionization dynamics in clusters. Compared to Brunel harmonics in gases, the spectra are shifted toward odd-order harmonics of Mie frequency ωM due to efficient excitation of Mie oscillations. Considering the appreciable single-cluster harmonic yield and the relaxed phase-matching condition in overdense clustered plasmas, clusters driven by few-cycle laser pulses can be a promising source of vacuum-ultraviolet radiation.