Search

This book covers a broad range of interdisciplinary topics, focusing on atoms and molecules in intense laser fields, excitation processes in intense laser fields, photonics and materials, high-order harmonics generation, XFEL, high-power lasers and their applications, and quantum computing. This seventeenth volume features contributions from world-renowned researchers on topics such as applications of attosecond and femtosecond laser pulses, coherence and dynamics in quantum systems, and applications of super-intense laser fields.The PUILS series delivers up-to-date reviews of progress in this emerging interdisciplinary research field, spanning atomic and molecular physics, molecular science, and optical science, which has been stimulated by the recent developments in ultrafast laser technologies. Each volume compiles peer-reviewed articles authored by researchers at the forefront of each of their own subfields of ultrafast intense laser science. Every chapter opens with an overview of the topics to be discussed, so that researchers unfamiliar with the subfield, especially graduate students, can grasp the importance and attractions of the research topic at hand; these are followed by reports of cutting-edge discoveries.

This thesis describes how the rich internal degrees of freedom of molecules can be exploited to construct the first “clock” based on ultracold molecules, rather than atoms. By holding the molecules in an optical lattice trap, the vibrational clock is engineered to have a high oscillation quality factor, facilitating the full characterization of frequency shifts affecting the clock at the hertz level. The prototypical vibrational molecular clock is shown to have a systematic fractional uncertainty at the 14th decimal place, matching the performance of the earliest optical atomic lattice clocks. As part of this effort, deeply bound strontium dimers are coherently created, and ultracold collisions of these Van der Waals molecules are studied for the first time, revealing inelastic losses at the universal rate. The thesis reports one of the most accurate measurements of a molecule's vibrational transition frequency to date. The molecular clock lays the groundwork for explorations into terahertz metrology, quantum chemistry, and fundamental interactions at atomic length scales.

This handbook comprises a comprehensive reference source that unifies the entire fields of atomic, molecular, and optical (AMO) physics, assembling the principal ideas, techniques and results of the field from atomic spectroscopy to applications to comets and global change. Its 91 chapters are written by over 100 authors, all leaders in their respective disciplines.Carefully edited to ensure a uniform coverage and style and with extensive cross references, together with a guide to the primary research literature, it is both a source of information and an inspiration for graduate students and other researchers new to the field. All chapters offer diagrams of apparatus, graphs, and tables of data.Twenty-seven years on since the Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics Handbook was first published, and sixteen years since the publication of the revised Springer edition, the Springer AMO Physics Handbook has become a standard reference in the field, and a starting point for generations of graduate students. In recent years, there have been dramatic advances in many areas of AMO physics involving both fundamental changes and new applications in areas such as quantum information, ultracold atoms, and searches for dark matter. This new edition contains an expanded coverage of these rapidly emerging fields.

This book summarizes the latest findings by leading researchers in the field of photon science in Russia and Japan. It discusses recent advances in the field of photon science and chemistry, covering a wide range of topics, including photochemistry and spectroscopy of novel materials, magnetic properties of solids, photobiology and imaging, and spectroscopy of solids and nanostructures. Based on lectures by respected scientists at the forefront of photon and molecular sciences, the book helps keep readers abreast of the current developments in the field.

This book covers a broad range of topics from the interdisciplinary research field of ultrafast intense laser science, focusing on atoms and molecules interacting with intense laser fields, laser-induced filamentation, high-order harmonics generation, and high power lasers and their applications. This sixteenth volume features contributions from world-renowned researchers, introducing the latest reports on probing molecular chirality with intense laser fields, and the most recent developments in the Shanghai Superintense Ultrafast Laser Facility project.The PUILS series delivers up-to-date reviews of progress in this emerging interdisciplinary research field, spanning atomic and molecular physics, molecular science, and optical science, which has been stimulated by the recent developments in ultrafast laser technologies. Each volume compiles peer-reviewed articles authored by researchers at the forefront of each of their own subfields of ultrafast intense laser science. Every chapter opens with an overview of the topics to be discussed, so that researchers unfamiliar to the subfield, especially graduate students, can grasp the importance and attractions of the research topic at hand; these are followed by reports of cutting-edge discoveries.

This book includes both theoretical and practical aspects within optics, photonics and lasers. The book provides new methods, technologies, advanced prototypes, systems, tools and techniques as well as a general survey indicating future trends and directions. The main fields of this book are Optical scattering, plasmas technologies and simulation, photonic and optoelectronic sensors and devices, optical fiber sensing and monitoring, image detection and Imaging solid state lasers and fiber lasers, and optical amplifiers. A wide range of optical materials is covered, from semiconductor based optical materials, optical crystals and optical glasses.

These proceedings gather a selection of invited and contributed papers presented during the 16th International Conference on X-Ray Lasers (ICXRL 2018), held in Prague, Czech Republic, from 7 to 12 October 2018. The conference is part of an ongoing series dedicated to recent developments in the science and technology of X-ray lasers and other coherent X-ray sources, with an additional focus on supporting technologies, instrumentation and applications. The book highlights advances in a wide range of fields including laser and discharge-pumped plasma X-ray lasers, the injection and seeding of X-ray amplifiers, high-order harmonic generation and ultrafast phenomena, X-ray free electron lasers, novel schemes for (in)coherent XUV, X-ray and γ-ray generation, XUV and X-ray imaging, optics and metrology, X-rays and γ-rays for fundamental science, the practical implementation of X-ray lasers, XFELs and super-intense lasers, and the applications and industrial uses ofX-ray lasers.

This book covers the fundamental aspects of fiber lasers and fiber amplifiers, and includes a wide range of material from laser physics fundamentals to state-of-the-art topics in this rapidly growing field of quantum electronics. This expanded and updated new edition includes substantial new material on nonlinear frequency conversion and Raman fiber lasers and amplifiers, as well as an expanded list of references inclusive of the recent literature in the field. Emphasis is placed on the nonlinear processes taking place in fiber lasers and amplifiers, their similarities, differences to, and their advantages over other solid-state lasers. The reader will learn the basic principles of solid-state physics and optical spectroscopy of laser active centers in fibers, the main operational laser regimes, and will receive practical recommendations and suggestions on fiber laser research, laser applications, and laser product development. The book will be useful for students, researchers, and professional physicists and engineers who work with lasers in the optical and telecommunications field, as well as those in the chemical and biological industries.

This second volume of “Progress in Photon Science – Recent Advances” presents the latest achievements made by world-leading researchers in Russia and Japan. Thanks to recent advances in light source technologies; detection techniques for photons, electrons, and charged particles; and imaging technologies, the frontiers of photon science are now being expanding rapidly. Readers will be introduced to the latest research efforts in this rapidly growing research field through topics covering bioimaging and biological photochemistry, atomic and molecular phenomena in laser fields, laser–plasma interaction, advanced spectroscopy, electron scattering in laser fields, photochemistry on novel materials, solid-state spectroscopy, photoexcitation dynamics of nanostructures and clusters, and light propagation.

This book focuses on the use of novel electron microscopy techniques to further our understanding of the physics behind electron–light interactions. It introduces and discusses the methodologies for advancing the field of electron microscopy towards a better control of electron dynamics with significantly improved temporal resolutions, and explores the burgeoning field of nanooptics – the physics of light–matter interaction at the nanoscale – whose practical applications transcend numerous fields such as energy conversion, control of chemical reactions, optically induced phase transitions, quantum cryptography, and data processing.In addition to describing analytical and numerical techniques for exploring the theoretical basis of electron–light interactions, the book showcases a number of relevant case studies, such as optical modes in gold tapers probed by electron beams and investigations of optical excitations in the topological insulator Bi2Se3. The experiments featured provide an impetus to develop more relevant theoretical models, benchmark current approximations, and even more characterization tools based on coherent electron–light interactions.

In two volumes, this book presents a detailed, systematic treatment of electromagnetics with application to the propagation of transient electromagnetic fields (including ultrawideband signals and ultrashort pulses) in dispersive absorptive media. This expanded, updated, and reorganized new edition presents a rigorous development of both time- and frequency-domain electromagnetics, from classical theory to current topics in applied research on temporally pulsed wave fields in dielectric, conducting, and semiconducting materials. With meaningful exercises throughout, it is suitable as a graduate textbook in electromagnetic wave theory and will be of use to researchers as a resource on electromagnetic radiation and wave propagation theory with applications to radar, imaging, communications, and safety issues.Volume 1 develops the fundamental Maxwell-Lorentz theory of microscopic electromagnetics and its relationship to macroscopic electromagnetics in complex media with particularemphasis given to temporally dispersive materials, supplemented with several appendices on mathematical methods. The second edition includes new material on conjugate electromagnetic fields, time-reversal invariance, the four-potential and Lorentz invariance, anisotropic and spatially dispersive media, double-negative metamaterials, and generalized Fresnel reflection and refraction coefficients for complex media. The relationship between both the mathematical and physical interpretation of classical electromagnetic field theory with the special theory of relativity is emphasized throughout the volume. Volume 2 covers temporal pulse dynamics in dispersive attenuative media, with asymptotic analysis at the forefront.

In two volumes, this book presents a detailed, systematic treatment of electromagnetics with application to the propagation of transient electromagnetic fields (including ultrawideband signals and ultrashort pulses) in dispersive attenuative media. The development in this expanded, updated, and reorganized new edition is mathematically rigorous, progressing from classical theory to the asymptotic description of pulsed wave fields in Debye and Lorentz model dielectrics, Drude model conductors, and composite model semiconductors. It will be of use to researchers as a resource on electromagnetic radiation and wave propagation theory with applications to ground and foliage penetrating radar, medical imaging, communications, and safety issues associated with ultrawideband pulsed fields. With meaningful exercises, and an authoritative selection of topics, it can also be used as a textbook to prepare graduate students for research. Volume 2 presents a detailed asymptotic description of plane wave pulse propagation in dielectric, conducting, and semiconducting materials as described by the classical Lorentz model of dielectric resonance, the Rocard-Powles-Debye model of orientational polarization, and the Drude model of metals. The rigorous description of the signal velocity of a pulse in a dispersive material is presented in connection with the question of superluminal pulse propagation. The second edition contains new material on the effects of spatial dispersion on precursor formation, and pulse transmission into a dispersive half space and into multilayered media. Volume 1 covers spectral representations in temporally dispersive media.

This book describes the state-of-the-art in the emerging field of optical trapping of ions, as well as the most recent advances enabling the use of this technique as a versatile tool for novel investigations in atomic physics. The text provides a detailed explanation of the requirements for optical trapping of ions, replete with a protocol for optical ion trapping, including preparation, transfer, and detection. The book also highlights the experimental requirements for extending the presented scheme to optical trapping of linear ion chains. Lastly, this text elaborates on the key features of the described approach, such as the capability to arrange single strongly interacting atoms in scalable, state-selective and wavelength-sized optical potentials without the detrimental impact of driven radiofrequency fields conventionally used to trap ions. The described results demonstrate that the developed methods are suitable for new experimental investigations, most notably in the field of ultracold interaction of ions and atoms, but also in quantum simulations and metrology. The book's practical bent is perfect for anyone attempting to build an experiment related to the field or understand the limitations behind current experiments.

This book gathers high-quality papers presented at the International Symposium on Optomechatronic Technology (ISOT 2018), which was organized by the International Society for Optomechatronics (ISOM) and Centro de Investigaciones en Óptica (CIO) in Cancun, Mexico on November 5–8, 2018. The respective papers address the evolution of optomechatronic devices and systems, and their implementation in problem-solving and various other applications. Moreover, they cover a broad range of topics at the interface of optical, mechanical and electrical technologies and methods.

This 14th volume in the PUILS series presents up-to-date reviews of advances in Ultrafast Intense Laser Science, an interdisciplinary research field spanning atomic and molecular physics, molecular science, and optical science, which has been stimulated by the rapid developments in ultrafast laser technologies. Each chapter begins with an overview of the topics to be discussed, so that researchers unfamiliar to the subfield, as well as graduate students, can grasp the importance and appeal of the respective subject matter; this is followed by reports on cutting-edge discoveries. This volume covers a broad range of topics from this interdisciplinary field, e.g. atoms and molecules interacting in intense laser fields, laser-induced filamentation, high-order harmonics generation, and high-intensity lasers and their applications.

The raw numbers of high-energy-density physics are amazing: shock waves at hundreds of km/s (approaching a million km per hour), temperatures of millions of degrees, and pressures that exceed 100 million atmospheres. This title surveys the production of high-energy-density conditions, the fundamental plasma and hydrodynamic models that can describe them and the problem of scaling from the laboratory to the cosmos. Connections to astrophysics are discussed throughout. The book is intended to support coursework in high-energy-density physics, to meet the needs of new researchers in this field, and also to serve as a useful reference on the fundamentals. Specifically the book has been designed to enable academics in physics, astrophysics, applied physics and engineering departments to provide in a single-course, an introduction to fluid mechanics and radiative transfer, with dramatic applications in the field of high-energy-density systems. This second edition includes pedagogic improvements to the presentation throughout and additional material on equations of state, heat waves, and ionization fronts, as well as problem sets accompanied by solutions.

This book presents the first comprehensive, interdisciplinary review of the rapidly developing field of air lasing. In most applications of lasers, such as cutting and engraving, the laser source is brought to the point of service where the laser beam is needed to perform its function. However, in some important applications such as remote atmospheric sensing, placing the laser at a convenient location is not an option. Current sensing schemes rely on the detection of weak backscattering of ground-based, forward-propagating optical probes, and possess limited sensitivity. The concept of air lasing (or atmospheric lasing) relies on the idea that the constituents of the air itself can be used as an active laser medium, creating a backward-propagating, impulsive, laser-like radiation emanating from a remote location in the atmosphere. This book provides important insights into the current state of development of air lasing and its applications.

This book describes the fascinating recent advances made concerning the chaos, stability and instability of semiconductor lasers, and discusses their applications and future prospects in detail. It emphasizes the dynamics in semiconductor lasers by optical and electronic feedback, optical injection, and injection current modulation. Applications of semiconductor laser chaos, control and noise, and semiconductor lasers are also demonstrated.Semiconductor lasers with new structures, such as vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers and broad-area semiconductor lasers, are intriguing and promising devices. Current topics include fast physical number generation using chaotic semiconductor lasers for secure communication, development of chaos, quantum-dot semiconductor lasers and quantum-cascade semiconductor lasers, and vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers.This fourth edition has been significantly expanded to reflect the latest developments. The fundamental theory oflaser chaos and the chaotic dynamics in semiconductor lasers are discussed, but also for example the method of self-mixing interferometry in quantum-cascade lasers, which is indispensable in practical applications.Further, this edition covers chaos synchronization between two lasers and the application to secure optical communications. Another new topic is the consistency and synchronization property of many coupled semiconductor lasers in connection with the analogy of the dynamics between synaptic neurons and chaotic semiconductor lasers, which are compatible nonlinear dynamic elements. In particular, zero-lag synchronization between distant neurons plays a crucial role for information processing in the brain. Lastly, the book presents an application of the consistency and synchronization property in chaotic semiconductor lasers, namely a type of neuro-inspired information processing referred to as reservoir computing.

This book displays the physics and design of high-power molecular lasers. The lasers described are self-controlled volume-discharge lasers. The book explains self-sustained discharge lasers, self-initiated discharge lasers and technical approaches to laser design. Important topics discussed are laser efficiency, laser beam quality and electric field homogeneity. The book contains many new innovative applications.

This book provides a chronological introduction to the electromagnetic theory of light, using selected extracts from classic texts such as Gilbert's De Magnete, Franklin's Experiments and Observations on Electricity, and Huygens'Treatise on Light. Particular attention is given to the works of Faraday, Maxwell and Heaviside, scientists who unified the formerly separate disciplines of electricity, magnetism and light. Their electromagnetic theory—developed during the 19th century—would lead to the invention of modern radar, electrical power grids, and telecommunication networks.Each chapter of this book begins with a short introduction followed by a reading selection. Carefully crafted study questions draw out key points in the text and focus the reader's attention on the author's methods, analysis and conclusions. Numerical and laboratory exercises at the end of each chapter test the reader's ability to understand and apply key concepts from the text.Electricity, Magnetism and Light is the third of four volumes in A Student's Guide through the Great Physics Texts. This book grew out of a four-semester undergraduate physics curriculum designed to encourage a critical and circumspect approach to natural science while at the same time preparing students for advanced coursework in physics.This book is particularly suitable as a college-level textbook for students of the natural sciences, history or philosophy. It can also serve as a textbook for advanced high-school or home-schooled students, or as a thematically-organized source-book for scholars and motivated lay-readers. In studying the classic scientific texts included herein, the reader will be drawn toward a lifetime of contemplation.

This volume originated in a happy event honoring Arthur Schawlow on his 65th birthday. As a research physicist, Schawlow has been a major infiuence on the present nature of physics and of high technology. He has also had a role, through the American Physical Society and other organizations, in shaping policy for the world of physicists. Important as these professional activities have been, the contributions to this volume were not prepared just for these reasons, but more for Art Schawlow the friend, colleague, and teacher. I am one who has had the privilege of knowing and collaborating with Art, probably over a longer period of time than others participating in this volume, and in a number of different enterprises; his friendship and stimulating scientific abilities are a very significant part of my own life. It is hence a pleasure to take part in this volume celebrating his contributions to science and to scientists. Schawlow's career has been geographically centered at the University of Toronto, Columbia University, the Bell Telephone Laboratories, and Stan­ ford University. But, as is illustrated by the papers of this volume, its effects and his personal infiuence have diffused widely. In his own work, Art Schawlow is noted for thoughtful imagination, keen physical intuition, and what might be thought an interest in gadgets - not just any gadgets, but beautiful and innovative mechanisms or new techniques in which he charac­ teristically recognizes important potentials.

The development of excimer laser systems marked a significant turning point in the development of coherent sources. The progress of the last few years has been largely predicated upon the combined knowledge of several disciplines including atomic and molecular physics, optical technology, and pulsed power technology, the latter mainly associated with electron beam devices. The purpose of this volume is to provide a comprehensive view of this marvelously exciting field that will be of value to both active researchers and neophytes alike. Since a clear understanding of both theory and experiment is necessary to achieve this goal, these issues are presented as an integrated whole. The preparation of this work involved the dedicated cooperation of many authors dispersed both geographically and intellectually. Naturally, the editor has the responsibility to integrate and balance a diverse range of opinions to the satisfaction of all, a job not always readily accomplished. We hope that this has been performed to the satisfaction of the reader. The editor wishes to express his gratitude to the many persons whose efforts made this book possible. Most important are the authors whose work constitutes the backbone and substance of this volume and whose normal professional lives are very busy ones, indeed. I can say that they worked diligently and with good humor in the preparation of their contributions.

The concept of squeezing is intimately related to the idea of vacuum fluctu­ ations, once thought to place an absolute limit to the accuracy of measure­ ment. However, vacuum fluctuations are not unchangeable. By recognizing that these quantum fluctuations always occur in two complementary observ­ ables, physicists have been able to make an intriguing trade-off. Reduced fluctuations in one variable can be realized - at the expense of increased fluctuations in another, according to Heisenberg. This Heisenberg'horse-trade'- originally predicted by theorists - was first accomplished experimentally by R. Slusher in 1985. Since then, the var­ ious techniques and applications of quantum squeezing have metamorphosed into a central tool in the wider field of quantum information. This book is a summary of the main ideas, methods and applications of quantum squeezing, written by those responsible for some of the chief developments in the field. The book is divided into three parts, to recognize that there are three areas in this research. These are the fundamental physics of quantum fluc­ tuations, the techniques of generating squeezed radiation, and the potential applications. Part I of the book, giving the fundamentals, is arranged as follows. • Chapter 1 introduces the basic ideas about what squeezing of quantum fluctuations is from the quantized free-field perspective. This chapter es­ tablishes the definitions and notations used throughout. • Chapter 2 explains how to quantize radiation in a dielectric, which is the basic technique that is used to make squeezed radiation.

Photothermal science continues to be an area of rapid development and active investigation, as is demonstrated by this volume. The various contributions present fundamental research in materials science, physics, chemistry, biology, and medicine, as well as important applications of photothermal techniques in nondestructive evaluation, aeronomy and pollution control, and other areas. The topics treated include measurements of spectral properties of gases, the theory of thermally generated elastic waves, a method of monitoring local surface displacements, materials characterization and nondestructive evaluation of materials, studies of the dynamics of primary photophysical processes, fast energy exchange at surfaces and at interfaces (e.g. in medicine and photobiology), thermal EXAFS and XANES applied to metals and semiconductors, and imaging of magnetic materials using microwave sources.

Keeping abreast of the latest techniques and applications, this new edition of the standard reference and graduate text on laser spectroscopy has been completely revised and expanded. While the general concept is unchanged, the new edition features a broad array of new material, e.g., frequency doubling in external cavities, reliable cw-parametric oscillators, tunable narrow-band UV sources, more sensitive detection techniques, tunable femtosecond and sub-femtosecond lasers (X-ray region and the attosecond range), control of atomic and molecular excitations, frequency combs able to synchronize independent femtosecond lasers, coherent matter waves, and still more applications in chemical analysis, medical diagnostics, and engineering.

Laser Spectroscopy - in this second enlarged edition - provides an introduction to modern techniques and instrumentation in laser spectroscopy. The first part, which discusses the basic concepts of absorption and emission of light, the spectroscopic instrumentation for wavelength measurements and detection of light, and the spectroscopic properties of lasers, is a textbook for graduate students. The second part gives a survey on different techniques of laser spectroscopy and their applications, with ample references to the original literature. This book helps close the gap between classical works on optics and spectroscopy, and more specialized publications on modern research in this field. It is addressed to graduate students in physics and chemistry as well as scientists just entering this field on research.

Atomic Multielectron Processes is the first comprehensive collection of the data (mostly cross sections and methods) devoted to the multielectron transitions in atoms and ions induced by single collisions with charged particles and photons. The book covers the fundamental ranges of atomic physics which helps understanding the nature of many particle transitions.

This collection of reviews by leading Japanese researchers covers topics like ultrafast optical responses, terahertz and phonon studies, super-sensitive surface and high-pressure spectroscopy, combination of visible and x-ray photonics. Several related areas at the cutting edge of measurement technology and materials science are included. This book is partly based on well-cited review articles in the Japanese language in special volumes of the Journal of the Vacuum Society of Japan.

Hydrogen bonds represent type of molecular interaction that determines the structure and function of a large variety of molecular systems. The elementary dynamics of hydrogen bonds and related proton transfer reactions, both occurring in the ultra fast time domain between 10-14 and 10-11s, form a research topic of high current interest. In this book addressing scientists and graduate students in physics, chemistry and biology, the ultra fast dynamics of hydrogen bonds and proton transfer in the condensed phase are reviewed by leading scientists, documenting the state of the art in this exciting field from the viewpoint of theory and experiment. The nonequilibrium behavior of hydrogen-bonded liquids and intramolecular hydrogen bonds as well as photo induced hydrogen and proton transfer are covered in 7 chapters, making reference to the most recent literature.

Dieses Lehrbuch wendet sich an Studenten der Physik, der Naturwissenschaften oder der Elektrotechnik ab 3. Semester. Die Atomphysik und die dazugehörige Quantenphysik bilden die Grundlage für viele moderne Gebiete der Physik, der Chemie, Biologie wie auch der Elektrotechnik. Es führt sorgfältig und leicht verständlich in die Ergebnisse und Methoden der empirischen Atomphysik ein. Gleichzeitig wird dem Leser das Rüstzeug der Quantentheorie vermittelt, wobei die Wechselwirkung zwischen Experiment und Theorie besonders herausgearbeitet wird. Die Autoren haben die neuesten Resultate mit berücksichtigt und behandeln insbesondere auch die für Grundlagenforschung und Anwendung gleichermaßen wichtige Laserphysik und nichtlineare Spektroskopie. Verbesserungen und Ergänzungen in der vorliegenden 3. Auflage beziehen sich u.a. auf die Behandlung der relativistischen Klein-Gordon und Dirac-Gleichungen, eine theoretische Ableitung der Lamb-Verschiebung, neue Entwicklungen in der Spektroskopie innerer Schalen, neue Anwendungen der NMR-Spektroskopie, z.B. Tomographie. Außerdem enthält diese Auflage eine große Anzahl von Übungsaufgaben einschließlich der Lösungen zur Vertiefung und zum Selbststudium.

Atomic physics is a pioneering discipline at the forefront of theoretical and experimental physics. It has played a major role in advancing our understanding of chaotic systems. The 1997 Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded for progress in cooling atoms to extremely low temperatures. This new edition of Theoretical Atomic Physics takes into account recent developments and includes sections on semiclassical periodic orbit theory, scaling properties for atoms in external fields, threshold behaviour of ionization cross sections, classical and quantum dynamics of two-electron atoms, and Bose-Einstein condensation of atomic gases. Moreover, for students there are 48 problems with complete solutions which makes this course the most thorough introduction to the field available.

The past few decades have witnessed remarkable growth and progress in our knowledge concerning the structure and properties of aperiodic systems at a microscopic level. The present volume provides a timely overview of the current state of the art on the structure, electronic and magnetic properties of aperiodic materials, including structural inhomogeniety. It also describes the theoretical calculation methodology. The subject is approached both from the basic science and the applied engineering points of view. Many references, illustrations and tables assist specialists and non-specialists alike to gain access to the growing body of essential information.

One of the major accomplishments of laser technology that took place dur­ ing the last 15 years is the possibility of generating coherent radiation that 18 can be focused so that its intensity reaches the magnitude of 10 W/ern'. Even higher intensities result from nonlinear self-focusing of such radiation in matter. The unique character of these magnitudes is illustrated by the fact that these intensities are substantially higher than those occurring inside the Sun. A range of previously unexplored physical mechanisms come into playas laser pulses interact with matter under the conditions of an extreme concen­ tration of laser energy. In particular, free electrons of plasma formed by rapid nonlinear ionization of gases and solid targets during the pulse rise time are driven by a laser radiation electric field at velocities comparable to the speed of light, and the corresponding relativistic increase in their masses entails a modification of the plasma's optical properties. Laser radiation intensities at which the above effect occurs are called relativistic. This book is intended to provide an introduction to the field of laser physics at relativistic intensities. Extensive theoretical and experimental studies have been performed in this area in the last decade. At present, laser physics at relativistic intensities can be considered a new and rapidly evolving area of modern physics. Impor­ tant basic new phenomena and concepts of applications are associated with it, among them relativistic and charge-displacement self-channeling, wake­ field particle acceleration, generation of free electron harmonics and X-rays, and fast ignition.

Laser cooling is a relatively new technique that has led to insights into the behavior of atoms as well as confirming with striking detail some of the fundamental notions of quantum mechanics, such as the condensation predicted by S.N. Bose. This elegant technique, whereby atoms, molecules, and even microscopic beads of glass, are trapped in small regions of free space by beams of light and subsequently moved at will using other beams, provides a useful research tool for the study of individual atoms and clusters of atoms, for investigating the details of chemical reactions, and even for determining the physical properties of individual macromolecules such as synthetic polymers and DNA. Intended for advanced undergraduates and beginning graduate students who have some basic knowledge of optics and quantum mechanics, this text begins with a review of the relevant results of quantum mechanics, it then turns to the electromagnetic interactions involved in slowing and trapping atoms and ions, in both magnetic and optical traps. The concluding chapters discuss a broad range of applications, from atomic clocks and studies of collision processes to diffraction and interference of atomic beams at optical lattices and Bose-Einstein condensation.

One often hears that nanoscience or, in other words, the knowledge and control of matter at length scales of a few nanometers, will be the scientific frontier of the 21st century. Although it has become almost commonplace, this prediction deserves some justification. The technological and scientific stakes of nanoscience indeed encompass many fields of science: they include the ultimate miniaturization of electronic devices to acquire, store, and process information, and also such basic endeavors as understanding the microscopic processes and patterns responsible for the physical properties of materials, or the many unsolved questions raised by the astoundingly intricate workings of living matter. Although the dream of observing and controlling matter at molecular scales is nearly as old as the very concept of molecules, earlier attempts at practical realizations were hampered by a scarcity of suitable access to the nanoworld. During the last two decades of the 20th century, owing to the several new tools which have been developed to address objects at nanometer scales, the nanoworld appears closer than ever, within our reach! A major class of methods in nanoscience are local probe microscopies such as scanning tunnelling or atomic force microscopies. They require scanning a sharp tip with molecular dimensions across the surface of the sample under study and, by direct action of the tip on the sample, they make nano-manipulations possible. The present book is devoted to another class of methods, the selection and study of single, optically active nano-objects by purely optical means.

Atomic and Molecular Spectroscopy is a wide-ranging review of modern spectroscopic techniques such as X-ray, photoelectron, optical and laser spectroscopy, as well as radiofrequency and microwave techniques. On the fundamental side, it focuses on physical principles and the impact of spectroscopy on our understanding of the building blocks of matter, while in the area of applications particular attention is paid to chemical analysis, photochemistry, surface characterisation, environmental and medical diagnostics, remote sensing and astrophysics. The third edition also provides the reader with an update on laser cooling and trapping, Bose-Einstein condensation, ultrafast spectroscopy, high-power laser/matter interaction, satellite-based astronomy and spectroscopic aspects of laser medicine.

The last few years have seen some remarkable advances in the understanding of atomic phenomena. It is now possible to isolate atomic systems in traps, measure in coincidence the fragments of collision processes, routinely produce, and study multicharged ions. One can look at bulk matter in such a way that the fundamental atomic character is clearly evident and work has begun to tease out the properties of anti­ matter. The papers in this book reflect many aspects of modem Atomic Physics. They correspond to the invited talks at a conference dedicated to the study of'New Directions in Atomic Physics,'which took place in Magdalene College, Cambridge in July of 1998. The meeting was designed as a way of taking stock of what has been achieved and, it was hoped, as a means of stimulating new research in new areas, along new lines. Consequently, an effort was made to touch on as many directions as we could in the four days of the meeting. We included some talks which overviewed whole subfields, as well as quite a large number of research contributions. There is a unity to Physics and we tried to avoid any artificial division between theory and experiment. We had roughly the same number of talks from those who are primarily concerned with making measurements, and from those who spend their lives trying to develop the theory to describe the experiments.

An understanding of dynamical behavior of electronically excited states is of great importance for the understanding of photochemical reaction mechanisms such as photoionization, photoisomerization, photodissociation, proton transfer, radical formation, bond cleavage, and bond formation. Thus the molecular structures of excited states, as defined by their potential energy surfaces, are closely related to the reaction mechanisms. In this text twelve leading experts present their recent experimental and theoretical findings on electronic excited states. Several chapters deal with the determination of molecular structures in excited states whereas others deal with the reaction dynamics involving these states. Progress toward manipulation and control of reactions using lasers in various laboratories around the world is also described.

This volume presents a considerable number of interrelated contributions dealing with the new scientific ability to shape and control matter and electromagnetic fields on a sub-wavelength scale.The topics range from the fundamental ones, such as photonic metamateriials, plasmonics and sub-wavelength resolution to the more applicative, such as detection of single molecules, tomography on a micro-chip, fluorescence spectroscopy of biological systems, coherent control of biomolecules, biosensing of single proteins, terahertz spectroscopy of nanoparticles, rare earth ion-doped nanoparticles, random lasing, and nanocoax array architecture.The various subjects bridge over the disciplines of physics, biology and chemistry, making this volume of interest to people working in these fields. The emphasis is on the principles behind each technique and on examining the full potential of each technique.The contributions that appear in this volume were presented at a NATO Advanced Study Institute that was held in Erice, Italy, 3-18 July, 2011. The pedagogical aspect of the Institute is reflected in the topics presented in this volume.

The chapters of this volume represent the invited papers delivered at the 3rd International Conference on Multiphoton Processes (ICOMP III) held in Iraklion, Crete, Greece, September 5-11, 1984. The invited papers at a conference like ICOMP cannot possibly cover the whole field which has grown to immense proportions in recent years, overlapping with such diverse areas as atomic and molecular spectroscopy, plasma physics, nonlinear optics, quantum optics, etc. We believe these contributions represent that part of the research activity which has been attracting the most interest in the past year or so, as well as reviews of some of the more established topics. Even within this scope, and given the confines imposed by the fi­ nite duration of a conference, important and timely topics are inevitably left out. But then, there will be ICOMP IV. The collection of articles in this volume, combined with extensive ref­ erences to related work given by the authors, should provide an introduc­ tion to the major problems of the field and its state of the art. The chapters have been arranged according to thematic proximity, beginning with atoms, and continuing on with molecules and surfaces. This classi­ fication, however, would not cover all the subject matter even within the limited scope of the conference and of this volume.

Atomic hydrogen, the simplest of all stable atoms, has been a challenge to spectroscopists and theoreticians for many years. Here, as in similar systems like positronium, muonium and possibly helium, the accuracy of theoretical predictions is comparable to that of experimental measurements. Hence exciting confrontations are possible. This together with expected large experimental improvements explains the strong interest in the symposium held in Pisa in June-July 1988. The resulting book completely covers the precision spectroscopy of atomic hydrogen and hydrogen-like systems, and also discusses aspects of QED and the influence of strong fields.

Nitrogen dioxide (N0) is notorious for its complex visible spectrum and has 2 frustrated many chemists and physicists. Despite their intense investigations the molecule still resists complete analysis of its spectrum. Because of the high density of lines, it is apparent that high-resolution measurements are essential to a thorough understanding of the spectrum. The major part of this book consists of an atlas, described in Chap. 2, of the absorption spectrum and the Stark modulation spectrum of N0 mea­ 2 sured using a cw dye laser. The narrow spectral width as well as the wide scan range of the dye laser made it possible to record the spectra contin­ uously over a wide range with Doppler-limited resolution. In the spectral range 16751-17885 em-I, about 13300 peaks have been observed in the absorption spectrum and their wave numbers, calibrated against Ar lines, are listed in the tables. The Stark modulation spectrum also shown provides useful information about the energy level structures complementary to that obtained from the absorption spectrum.

Research involving the chemical physics of the inert or rare gases continues unabated. This small volume is meant to deal with advances that have occurred in three selected areas over the past decade. It forms a natural outgrowth of earlier reviews and volumes that have dealt almost exclusively with pure rare-gas solids. Originally, a single chapter was envisaged to cover the topic of alloys and impurities in solid rare gases. However, over the past ten years this single chapter spawned many offshoots and eventually the project became too large for a single volume. Thus the present book contains only a small subset of possbile topics involving rare-gas solids intentionally doped with impurities. Chapter 1 gives a brief overview of current research devoted to the rare gases. This is followed by a comprehensive, self-contained chapter dealing with the most recent developments in the area of interatomic inter­ actions. Chapter 3 is concerned with the lattice dynamics of rare-gas solids doped with an impurity which is either another rare-gas or a small molecule. The final chapter deals with the spectroscopy of vibrating and rotating di­ atomic impurities in rare-gas solids. The birth of this volume was not without its labour pains. I should like to take this opportunity to thank the various people who have at one time or another been involved throughout its gestation period. Clearly, many important topics are omitted from this volume.

A thorough knowledge of the physics of atoms and quanta is clearly a must for every student of physics but also for students of neighbouring disciplines such as chemistry and electrical engineering. What these students especially need is a coherent presenta­ tion of both the experimental and the theoretical aspects of atomic and quantum physics. Indeed, this field could evolve only through the intimate interaction between ingenious experiments and an equally ingenious development of bold new ideas. It is well known that the study of the microworld of atoms caused a revolution of physical thought, and fundamental ideas of classical physics, such as those on measur­ ability, had to be abandoned. But atomic and quantum physics is not only a fascinating field with respect to the development of far-reaching new physical ideas. It is also of enormous importance as a basis for other fields. For instance, it provides chemistry with a conceptual basis through the quantum theory of chemical bonding. Modern solid-state physics, with its numerous applications in communication and computer technology, rests on the fundamental concepts first developed in atomic and quantum physics. Among the many other important technical applications we mention just the laser, a now widely used light source which produces light whose physical nature is quite different from that of conventional lamps. In this book we have tried to convey to the reader some of the fascination which atomic and quantum physics still gives a physicist studying this field.

The Sixth International Conference on Time-Resolved Vibrational Spectroscopy was held from May 23 to 28, 1993 in Berlin, Germany. It continued the series of biennial conferences initiated in 1982 by Prof. George Atkinson (University of Arizona) at Lake Placid, USA, followed by conferences which were chaired by Prof. Alfred Laubereau (University of Bayreuth) and Dr. Manfred Stockburger (Max-Planck-Institut, G6ttingen) at Bayreuth-Bischofsgrtin, Germany, in 1985, by Prof. Joop D.W. Van Voorst (University of Amsterdam) at Amersfoort, The Netherlands, in 1987, Prof. Thomas G. Spiro (Princeton University) at Princeton, USA, in 1989, and by Prof. Hiroaki Takahashi (Waseda University) at Tokyo, Japan, in 1991. The Berlin conference attracted 120 participants from 19 different countries, representing the most active scientific groups of the world in this field. Since 1982 the field has benefited from the development of lasers with shorter pulses and of reliable tunable light sources in the infrared. Now, the main activities are focused on the primary photo-induced processes and their excited-state dynamics and on detailed investigations in photochemistry and photobiology. The high quality of the contributions given at this conference is reflected in this proceedings volume and will provide all scientists interested in this field with current state-of-the-art results.

Almost fifteen years have now elapsed since the first observations of per­ sistent spectral hole-burning in inhomogeneously broadened absorption lines in solids. The fact that the spectral shape of an inhomogeneously broadened line can be locally modified for long periods of time has led to a large number of investigations of low-temperature photophysics and photochemistry that would not have been possible otherwise. Using hole­ burning, important information has been obtained about a variety of in­ teractions, including excited-state dephasing processes, host-guest dynam­ ics, proton tunnelling, low-frequency excitation in amorphous hosts, relaxation mechanisms for vibrational modes, photochemical mechanisms at liquid helium temperatures, and external field perturbations. At the same time, the possibility that persistent spectral holes might be used to store digital information has led to the study of materials and configura­ tions for frequency-domain optical storage and related possible applica­ tions. This is the first full-length book on persistent spectral hole-burning. The goal is to provide a broadly based survey of the scientific principles and applications of persistent spectral hole-burning. Since the topic is quite interdisciplinary, the book is intended for researchers, graduate stu­ dents, and advanced undergraduates in the fields of chemical physics, solid-state physics, laser spectroscopy, solid-state photochemistry, and high-performance optical storage and optical processing.