With the advent of ultrashort light pulses with durations of less than 100 attoseconds (1 as = 10e-18 s) the direct observation and control of electronic motion in atoms, molecules has come into reach enabling a whole new field of research called attosecond physics.
This lecture provides an introduction into the theoretical and experimental methods of attosecond physics, i.e. the study of ultrafast electronic dynamics.
Basic processes in the interaction of laser pulses with atoms and molecules, e.g.:
- ionization mechanisms
- electron spectra
- high harmonic radiation
Methods to solve the time-dependent Schrödinger equation for atoms and molecules in strong laser fields
Introduction to ultrafast laser technology and nonlinear optics, e.g.:
- creation of ultrashort laser pulses
- pulse propagation in matter
- optical parametric amplification
- control over the electric field of laser pulses (phase stabilization)
Creation and characterization of attosecond pulses
Typical applications of attosecond pulses and key experiments
