Second-harmonic generation at Lyman-α in atomic hydrogen

Second-harmonic generation in atomic hydrogen is investigated with and without an applied electric field, by tuning laser radiation at 243.1 nm through the 2 (2)S((1/2))-1(2)S((1/2)) two-photon resonance. Even at zero applied field, secondharmonic radiation at 121.6 nm was observed. The measured intensity is shown to arise from a charge-separation field caused by ions produced in three-photon ionization. calculated value based on the measured ion density.