The advantages of using two beam high order harmonic generation (HOHG) from solids are discussed. The two-pulse technique allows additional control of the parameters essential for the attosecond pulse generation. We show that spectral filtering is not necessary for the generation of attosecond pulses. The simple oscillating mirror model is in qualitative agreement with the computer simulations. We present the results of first experiments using two beams for HOHG.

The polarization of the two beam (driver-probe) high-order harmonic generation from solids is measured. The experiments, together with computer simulations, allow us to distinguish two different coupling mechanisms of the driver and the probe, resulting in different harmonic efficiencies and spectral slopes. We find that in the nonrelativistic regime the coupling is mostly due to the nonlinear plasma density modulation.

Harmonic generation from solid surfaces is a promising tool for producing high energy attosecond pulses. We report shaping of the harmonic spectrum to achieve the bandwidth necessary for attosecond pulse generation. The shaping is demonstrated for lower as well as for higher harmonics using single and two-pulse pumping. The measured harmonic field autocorrelation function exhibits attosecond spikes in good agreement with the harmonic spectrum. Double slit experiments reveal a high spatial coherence of the harmonic beam.