Laser-induced modification of a structured continuum observed in ionization and harmonic generation

Experimental investigations of the laser-induced continuum structure in the vicinity of autoionizing states (AIS's) of Ca are reported for both ionization and third-harmonic generation. The shape of the induced structures is shown to be strongly affected by the presence of the AIS's, as well as exhibiting a detuning- and laser-intensity-dependent transition from a window resonance dip to a peak. The observed modification of the continuum is discussed in terms of interfering excitation channels.