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This book attempts to give a discussion of the physics and current and potential applications of the self-focusing of an intense femtosecond laser pulse in a tra- parent medium. Although self-focusing is an old subject of nonlinear optics, the consequence of self-focusing of intense femtosecond laser pulses is totally new and unexpected. Thus, new phenomena are observed, such as long range lam- tation, intensity clamping, white light laser pulse, self-spatial ltering, self-group phase locking, self-pulse compression, clean nonlinear uorescence, and so on. Long range propagation at high intensity, which is seemingly against the law of diffraction, is probably one of the most exciting consequences of this new sub- eld of nonlinear optics. Because the intensity inside the lament core is high, new ways of doing nonlinear optics inside the lament become possible. We call this lamentation nonlinear optics. We shall describe the generation of pulses at other wavelengths in the visible and ultraviolet (UV) starting from the near infrared pump pulse at 800 nm through four-wave-mixing and third harmonic generation, all in gases. Remotely sensing uorescence from the fragments of chemical and biological agents in all forms, gaseous, aerosol or solid, inside the laments in air is demonstrated in the labo- tory. The results will be shown in the last part of the book. Through analyzing the uorescence of gas molecules inside the lament, an unexpected physical process pertaining to the interaction of synchrotron radiation with molecules is observed.

This book attempts to give a discussion of the physics and current and potential applications of the self-focusing of an intense femtosecond laser pulse in a tra- parent medium. Although self-focusing is an old subject of nonlinear optics, the consequence of self-focusing of intense femtosecond laser pulses is totally new and unexpected. Thus, new phenomena are observed, such as long range lam- tation, intensity clamping, white light laser pulse, self-spatial ltering, self-group phase locking, self-pulse compression, clean nonlinear uorescence, and so on. Long range propagation at high intensity, which is seemingly against the law of diffraction, is probably one of the most exciting consequences of this new sub- eld of nonlinear optics. Because the intensity inside the lament core is high, new ways of doing nonlinear optics inside the lament become possible. We call this lamentation nonlinear optics. We shall describe the generation of pulses at other wavelengths in the visible and ultraviolet (UV) starting from the near infrared pump pulse at 800 nm through four-wave-mixing and third harmonic generation, all in gases. Remotely sensing uorescence from the fragments of chemical and biological agents in all forms, gaseous, aerosol or solid, inside the laments in air is demonstrated in the labo- tory. The results will be shown in the last part of the book. Through analyzing the uorescence of gas molecules inside the lament, an unexpected physical process pertaining to the interaction of synchrotron radiation with molecules is observed.

This book attempts to give a discussion of the physics and current and potential applications of the self-focusing of an intense femtosecond laser pulse in a tra- parent medium. Although self-focusing is an old subject of nonlinear optics, the consequence of self-focusing of intense femtosecond laser pulses is totally new and unexpected. Thus, new phenomena are observed, such as long range lam- tation, intensity clamping, white light laser pulse, self-spatial ltering, self-group phase locking, self-pulse compression, clean nonlinear uorescence, and so on. Long range propagation at high intensity, which is seemingly against the law of diffraction, is probably one of the most exciting consequences of this new sub- eld of nonlinear optics. Because the intensity inside the lament core is high, new ways of doing nonlinear optics inside the lament become possible. We call this lamentation nonlinear optics. We shall describe the generation of pulses at other wavelengths in the visible and ultraviolet (UV) starting from the near infrared pump pulse at 800 nm through four-wave-mixing and third harmonic generation, all in gases. Remotely sensing uorescence from the fragments of chemical and biological agents in all forms, gaseous, aerosol or solid, inside the laments in air is demonstrated in the labo- tory. The results will be shown in the last part of the book. Through analyzing the uorescence of gas molecules inside the lament, an unexpected physical process pertaining to the interaction of synchrotron radiation with molecules is observed.

This is the first of a series of books on Ultrafast Intense Laser Science, a newly emerging interdisciplinary research field that spans atomic and molecular physics, molecular science, and optical science. It covers intense VUV laser-cluster interaction, resonance and chaos-assisted tunneling, and the effects of the carrier-envelope phase on high-order harmonic generation.

The world is ?lled with light, and, no doubt, we have developed our idea of nature by “seeing” matters, that is, by irradiating matters with light. When increasing the intensity of light, we realized recently that a variety of new and hitherto unimaginable phenomena emerge. In rapid succession, abo- threshold ionization, Coulomb explosion, selective chemical bond breaking, high-order harmonic generation into deep XUV, generation of short-pulsed ?18 X ray, ?lamentation, and light-pulse shortening into the attosecond (10 s) time domain have been reported. Light has gained a new function which is to change the character of matter itself and the consequences have triggered a lot of enthusiasm, discussions and collaborations among the researchers. A series of annual meetings, “International Symposium on Ultrafast - tense Laser Science” (http://www.isuils.jp), with which this new Springer sub-series collaborates, was designed to stimulate further interdisciplinary interactions at the forefront of research aiming at expanding the frontiers of the ?eld. The ?rst ISUILS was held in Tokyo in 2002, featuring the issue of control of molecules in intense laser ?elds, and the second ISUILS was held the next year in Quebec City. From this ISUILS2, we started honoring distinguished researchers who have contributed to the establishment of the basis of this new research ?eld. Prof. Hiroshi Takuma (Tokyo) and Prof. G- ard Mainfray (Saclay) served as Honorary Co-chairs at ISUILS2, and Prof. Leonid Keldysh (Moscow) and Prof. Orazio Svelto (Milano) at ISUILS3 held in Palermo in 2004.

The world is ?lled with light, and, no doubt, we have developed our idea of nature by “seeing” matters, that is, by irradiating matters with light. When increasing the intensity of light, we realized recently that a variety of new and hitherto unimaginable phenomena emerge. In rapid succession, abo- threshold ionization, Coulomb explosion, selective chemical bond breaking, high-order harmonic generation into deep XUV, generation of short-pulsed ?18 X ray, ?lamentation, and light-pulse shortening into the attosecond (10 s) time domain have been reported. Light has gained a new function which is to change the character of matter itself and the consequences have triggered a lot of enthusiasm, discussions and collaborations among the researchers. A series of annual meetings, “International Symposium on Ultrafast - tense Laser Science” (http://www.isuils.jp), with which this new Springer sub-series collaborates, was designed to stimulate further interdisciplinary interactions at the forefront of research aiming at expanding the frontiers of the ?eld. The ?rst ISUILS was held in Tokyo in 2002, featuring the issue of control of molecules in intense laser ?elds, and the second ISUILS was held the next year in Quebec City. From this ISUILS2, we started honoring distinguished researchers who have contributed to the establishment of the basis of this new research ?eld. Prof. Hiroshi Takuma (Tokyo) and Prof. G- ard Mainfray (Saclay) served as Honorary Co-chairs at ISUILS2, and Prof. Leonid Keldysh (Moscow) and Prof. Orazio Svelto (Milano) at ISUILS3 held in Palermo in 2004.

It is a great pleasure that we are now publishing the fourth volume of the series on PUILS, through which we have been introducing the progress in ultrafast intense laser science, the frontiers of which are rapidly expanding, thanks to the progress in ultrashort and high-power laser technologies. The interdisciplinary nature of this research ?eld is attracting researchers with di?erent expertise and backgrounds. As in the previousvolumeson PUILS, each chapter in the presentvolume, which is in the range of 15–25 pages, begins with an introduction in which a clear and concise account of the signi?cance of the topic is given, followed by a description of the authors’ most recent research results. All the chapters are peer-reviewed. The articles of this fourth volume cover a diverse range of the interdisciplinary research ?eld, and the topics may be grouped into four categories: strong ?eld ionization of atoms (Chaps. 1–2), excitation, ioni- tion and fragmentation of molecules (Chaps. 3–5), nonlinear intense optical phenomena and attosecond pulses (Chaps. 6–8), and laser solid interactions and photoemissions (Chaps. 9–11).

It is a great pleasure that we are now publishing the fourth volume of the series on PUILS, through which we have been introducing the progress in ultrafast intense laser science, the frontiers of which are rapidly expanding, thanks to the progress in ultrashort and high-power laser technologies. The interdisciplinary nature of this research ?eld is attracting researchers with di?erent expertise and backgrounds. As in the previousvolumeson PUILS, each chapter in the presentvolume, which is in the range of 15–25 pages, begins with an introduction in which a clear and concise account of the signi?cance of the topic is given, followed by a description of the authors’ most recent research results. All the chapters are peer-reviewed. The articles of this fourth volume cover a diverse range of the interdisciplinary research ?eld, and the topics may be grouped into four categories: strong ?eld ionization of atoms (Chaps. 1–2), excitation, ioni- tion and fragmentation of molecules (Chaps. 3–5), nonlinear intense optical phenomena and attosecond pulses (Chaps. 6–8), and laser solid interactions and photoemissions (Chaps. 9–11).

The frontiers in ultrafast intense laser science are rapidly expanding thanks to the progress in ultrashort and high-power laser technologies, and the interd- ciplinary nature of this research ?eld is attracting researchers with di?erent expertise and backgrounds. As in the ?rst two volumes of PUILS, each chapter in the present volume, whose page length is in the range of 15 to 25 pages, begins with an int- duction in which clear and concise accounts of the signi?cance of the topics is described, followed by a description of the authors’ most recent research results. All chapters are peer-reviewed. The articles of this third volume cover a diverse range of the interdisciplinary research ?eld, and the topics may be grouped in ?ve categories: strong ?eld ionization of atoms (Chaps. 1–3), i- ization and fragmentation of molecules and clusters (Chaps. 4–8), generation of high-order harmonics and attosecond pulses (Chaps. 9–11), ?lamentation and laser plasma interaction (Chaps. 12–14), and the development of ult- short and ultrahigh-intensity light sources (Chap. 15). The PUILS series has been edited in liaison with the activities of the MEXT Priority Area Program on Control of Molecules in Intense Laser Fields (FY2002–2005), the JSPS Core-to-Core Program on Ultrafast Intense Laser Science (FY2004–), and JILS (Japan Intense Light Field Science Society). Starting with the present volume, JILS has become a sponsor organization for the PUILS series, taking on responsibility for its regular publication.

The frontiers in ultrafast intense laser science are rapidly expanding thanks to the progress in ultrashort and high-power laser technologies, and the interd- ciplinary nature of this research ?eld is attracting researchers with di?erent expertise and backgrounds. As in the ?rst two volumes of PUILS, each chapter in the present volume, whose page length is in the range of 15 to 25 pages, begins with an int- duction in which clear and concise accounts of the signi?cance of the topics is described, followed by a description of the authors’ most recent research results. All chapters are peer-reviewed. The articles of this third volume cover a diverse range of the interdisciplinary research ?eld, and the topics may be grouped in ?ve categories: strong ?eld ionization of atoms (Chaps. 1–3), i- ization and fragmentation of molecules and clusters (Chaps. 4–8), generation of high-order harmonics and attosecond pulses (Chaps. 9–11), ?lamentation and laser plasma interaction (Chaps. 12–14), and the development of ult- short and ultrahigh-intensity light sources (Chap. 15). The PUILS series has been edited in liaison with the activities of the MEXT Priority Area Program on Control of Molecules in Intense Laser Fields (FY2002–2005), the JSPS Core-to-Core Program on Ultrafast Intense Laser Science (FY2004–), and JILS (Japan Intense Light Field Science Society). Starting with the present volume, JILS has become a sponsor organization for the PUILS series, taking on responsibility for its regular publication.

This is the first of a series of books on Ultrafast Intense Laser Science, a newly emerging interdisciplinary research field that spans atomic and molecular physics, molecular science, and optical science. It covers intense VUV laser-cluster interaction, resonance and chaos-assisted tunneling, and the effects of the carrier-envelope phase on high-order harmonic generation.

The world is ?lled with light, and, no doubt, we have developed our idea of nature by “seeing” matters, that is, by irradiating matters with light. When increasing the intensity of light, we realized recently that a variety of new and hitherto unimaginable phenomena emerge. In rapid succession, abo- threshold ionization, Coulomb explosion, selective chemical bond breaking, high-order harmonic generation into deep XUV, generation of short-pulsed ?18 X ray, ?lamentation, and light-pulse shortening into the attosecond (10 s) time domain have been reported. Light has gained a new function which is to change the character of matter itself and the consequences have triggered a lot of enthusiasm, discussions and collaborations among the researchers. A series of annual meetings, “International Symposium on Ultrafast - tense Laser Science” (http://www.isuils.jp), with which this new Springer sub-series collaborates, was designed to stimulate further interdisciplinary interactions at the forefront of research aiming at expanding the frontiers of the ?eld. The ?rst ISUILS was held in Tokyo in 2002, featuring the issue of control of molecules in intense laser ?elds, and the second ISUILS was held the next year in Quebec City. From this ISUILS2, we started honoring distinguished researchers who have contributed to the establishment of the basis of this new research ?eld. Prof. Hiroshi Takuma (Tokyo) and Prof. G- ard Mainfray (Saclay) served as Honorary Co-chairs at ISUILS2, and Prof. Leonid Keldysh (Moscow) and Prof. Orazio Svelto (Milano) at ISUILS3 held in Palermo in 2004.

It is a great pleasure that we are now publishing the fourth volume of the series on PUILS, through which we have been introducing the progress in ultrafast intense laser science, the frontiers of which are rapidly expanding, thanks to the progress in ultrashort and high-power laser technologies. The interdisciplinary nature of this research ?eld is attracting researchers with di?erent expertise and backgrounds. As in the previousvolumeson PUILS, each chapter in the presentvolume, which is in the range of 15–25 pages, begins with an introduction in which a clear and concise account of the signi?cance of the topic is given, followed by a description of the authors’ most recent research results. All the chapters are peer-reviewed. The articles of this fourth volume cover a diverse range of the interdisciplinary research ?eld, and the topics may be grouped into four categories: strong ?eld ionization of atoms (Chaps. 1–2), excitation, ioni- tion and fragmentation of molecules (Chaps. 3–5), nonlinear intense optical phenomena and attosecond pulses (Chaps. 6–8), and laser solid interactions and photoemissions (Chaps. 9–11).

The frontiers in ultrafast intense laser science are rapidly expanding thanks to the progress in ultrashort and high-power laser technologies, and the interd- ciplinary nature of this research ?eld is attracting researchers with di?erent expertise and backgrounds. As in the ?rst two volumes of PUILS, each chapter in the present volume, whose page length is in the range of 15 to 25 pages, begins with an int- duction in which clear and concise accounts of the signi?cance of the topics is described, followed by a description of the authors’ most recent research results. All chapters are peer-reviewed. The articles of this third volume cover a diverse range of the interdisciplinary research ?eld, and the topics may be grouped in ?ve categories: strong ?eld ionization of atoms (Chaps. 1–3), i- ization and fragmentation of molecules and clusters (Chaps. 4–8), generation of high-order harmonics and attosecond pulses (Chaps. 9–11), ?lamentation and laser plasma interaction (Chaps. 12–14), and the development of ult- short and ultrahigh-intensity light sources (Chap. 15). The PUILS series has been edited in liaison with the activities of the MEXT Priority Area Program on Control of Molecules in Intense Laser Fields (FY2002–2005), the JSPS Core-to-Core Program on Ultrafast Intense Laser Science (FY2004–), and JILS (Japan Intense Light Field Science Society). Starting with the present volume, JILS has become a sponsor organization for the PUILS series, taking on responsibility for its regular publication.

This textbook is based on a course given by the first-named author to third and fourth year undergraduate students from physics, engineering physics and electrical engineering. The purpose is to introduce and explain some of the fundamental principles underlying laser beam control in optoelectronics, especially those in relation to optical anisotropy which is at the heart of many optical devices. The book attempts to give the reader the background knowledge needed to work in a laser, optoelectronic or photonic environment, and to manage and handle laser beam equipment with ease.In this edition, recent research results on modern technologies and instruments relevant to laser optoelectronics have been added to each chapter. New material include: chirped pulse amplification for petawatt lasers; optical anisotropy; physical explanations for group velocity dispersion, group delay dispersion, and third order dispersion; an introduction of different types of laser systems; and both optical isotropy and anisotropy in different types of harmonic generation.Theories based upon mode-locking and chirped pulse amplifications have become increasingly more important. It is thus necessary that students learn all these in a course devoted to laser optoelectronics. As such, Chapter 12 is now devoted to mode-locking and carrier-envelope phase locking. A new chapter, Chapter 13, which focuses on chirped pulse amplification has also been added.

This textbook is based on a course given by the first-named author to third and fourth year undergraduate students from physics, engineering physics and electrical engineering. The purpose is to introduce and explain some of the fundamental principles underlying laser beam control in optoelectronics, especially those in relation to optical anisotropy which is at the heart of many optical devices. The book attempts to give the reader the background knowledge needed to work in a laser, optoelectronic or photonic environment, and to manage and handle laser beam equipment with ease.In this edition, recent research results on modern technologies and instruments relevant to laser optoelectronics have been added to each chapter. New material include: chirped pulse amplification for petawatt lasers; optical anisotropy; physical explanations for group velocity dispersion, group delay dispersion, and third order dispersion; an introduction of different types of laser systems; and both optical isotropy and anisotropy in different types of harmonic generation.Theories based upon mode-locking and chirped pulse amplifications have become increasingly more important. It is thus necessary that students learn all these in a course devoted to laser optoelectronics. As such, Chapter 12 is now devoted to mode-locking and carrier-envelope phase locking. A new chapter, Chapter 13, which focuses on chirped pulse amplification has also been added.