Ultrafast Dynamics Driven by Intense Light Pulses, 1st ed. 2015
From Atoms to Solids, from Lasers to Intense X-rays
Springer Series on Atomic, Optical, and Plasma Physics Series, Vol. 86

This book documents the recent vivid developments in the research field of ultrashort intense light pulses for probing and controlling ultrafast dynamics. The recent fascinating results in studying and controlling ultrafast dynamics in ever more complicated systems such as (bio-)molecules and structures of meso- to macroscopic sizes on ever shorter time-scales are presented. The book is written by some of the most eminent experimental and theoretical experts in the field. It covers the new groundbreaking research directions that were opened by the availability of new light sources such as fully controlled intense laser fields with durations down to a single oscillation cycle, short-wavelength laser-driven attosecond pulses and intense X-ray pulses from the upcoming free electron lasers. These light sources allowed the investigation of dynamics in atoms, molecules, clusters, on surfaces and very recently also in nanostructures and solids in new regimes of parameters which, in turn, led to the identification of completely new dynamics and methods for controlling it. Example topics covered by this book include the study of ultrafast processes in large molecules using attosecond pulses, control of ultrafast electron dynamics in solids with shaped femtosecond laser pulses, light-driven ultrafast plasmonic processes on surfaces and in nanostructures as well as research on atomic and molecular systems under intense X-ray radiation. This book is equally helpful for people who would like to step into this field (e.g. young researchers), for whom it provides a broad introduction, as well as for already experienced researchers who may enjoy the exhaustive discussion that covers the research on essentially all currently studied objects and with all available ultrafast pulse sources.

Provides a comprehensive overview of the state-of-the-art of research on femto- and attosecond dynamical processes

Covers applications of ultrafast lasers to the study of physical systems, in particular atomic and molecular systems

Presents amongst others few-cycle light-field controlled laser pulses over attosecond table-top XUV/X-ray sources to intense X-ray pulses from free-electron lasers

Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras