Ultrafast high-harmonic spectroscopy of solids

High-harmonic spectroscopy, an ultrafast all-optical technique initially conceptualized in atomic and molecular systems, has now emerged as a powerful platform for studying the structure and dynamics of condensed matter. Unlike that in the gas phase, solid-state high-harmonic generation relies on the fundamental response from high atomic density and periodicity, leading to interband transitions and coherent driving of electrons and holes in their respective bands. These mechanisms make high-harmonic spectroscopy particularly sensitive to the electronic band structure, topological properties and many-body correlations in condensed media. An advantage of high-harmonic spectroscopy over other spectroscopic methods is its ability to probe ultrafast phenomena, capturing femto- to attosecond dynamics of multi-band and strongly correlated electron interactions in solids. In this Review, we discuss the latest experimental and theoretical advances in ultrafast high-harmonic spectroscopy of solids and provide perspectives for future research in this field. High-harmonic spectroscopy on solids is an ultrafast all-optical technique to study the structure and dynamics of materials. This Review discusses areas of condensed-matter physics where this technique can provide particular insight.