Atoms and Molecules in Strong Laser Fields

Abstract

The field of research dealing with the interactions of superstrong and ultrashort laser pulses with atoms and molecules has reached a considerable degree of maturity, as summarized in a number of books [Gavrila 1992, Piraux 1993, Delone 2000] and review articles [Mainfray 1991, Freeman 1991, Burnett 1993, Protopapas 1997, Salières 1999, Joachain 2000, Brabec 2000, Dörner 2002, Becker 2002]. As shown in Fig. 24.1, the attainable laser intensity has increased by 12 orders of magnitude since the invention of the laser in 1960, as a result of a series of technological advances. Today, focused intensities in excess of 10²¹ W/cm² can be produced from both large-scale and lab-scale lasers.