Attosecond science and technology

Abstract

Attosecond technology is a radical departure from all the optical (and collision) technology that preceded it. It merges optical and collision physics. The technology opens important problems in each area of science for study by previously unavailable methods. Underlying attosecond technology is a strong laser field. It extracts an electron from an atom or molecule near the crest of the field. The electron is pulled away from its parent ion, but is driven back after the field reverses. It can then recollide with its parent ion. Since the recolliding electron has a wavelength of about 1 Å, we can measure Angstrom spatial dimensions. Since the strong time-dependent field of the light pulse directs the electron with subcycle precision, we can control and measure attosecond phenomena. PACS Nos.: 33.15.Mt, 33.80.Rv, 39.90.+d, 42.50.Hz, 42.65.Ky