This book presents a detailed, modern description of the ionization of atoms by strong laser radiation. The authors present descriptions of processes occurring in atoms under the action of strong electromagnetic radiation, in particular, the shift, broadening, and mixing of atomic states. The topics include tunneling ionization, above-threshold ionization, ionization of multiply charged ions, resonance-enhanced ionization, super-intense radiation fields, and properties of Rydberg states strongly perturbed by laser radiation.

Multiphoton ionization of atoms in intense laser-light fields is gaining ground as a spectroscopic diagnostic tool. In this volume, Delone and Krainov present their and others' theoretical description of the process occurring in atoms under conditions of multi-photon impacts, in particular, the shift, broadening, and mixing of electronic states which complicate the interpretation of spectra. The topics of individual chapters include tunneling ionization, above-threshold ionization, ionization of multiply charged ions, resonance-enhenced ionization, super-intense radiation fields, and properties of Rydberg states in strong fields.

My aim in this book has been to give an account of the theoretical methods of analysis of multiphoton processes in atomic physics. In this account I have emphasized systematic methods as opposed to ad hoc approaches. Both perturbative and nonperturbative methods are presented with il lustrative results of concrete applications. The perturbation theory is the primary tool of analysis of nonresonant multiphoton processes. It is developed here in conjunction with a diagrammatic language and is also renormalized to free it from the unwanted divergences which accompany the ordinary treatment when higher-order corrections are considered. The nonperturbative methods (i.e., methods other than that of power series ex pansion in the field strength) become particularly important for consistent treatments of problems involving, for example, intermediate resonances, high field strengths, and finite pulse duration. The specifically nonpertur bative methods for multiphoton transitions are presented in Chapters 6-11. The methods of resolvent equations and of effective Hamiltonians are developed for both the stationary and the time-dependent fields. The densi ty matrix method is presented in conjunction with the problems of relaxa tion and of fluctuating fields. The Floquet theory is presented both in the energy domain and in the time domain. Also treated are the methods of continued fractions, recursive iterative equations, and chain Hamiltonians.

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.

Multiphoton lonization of Atoms ...

A unified account of the rapidly developing field of high-intensity laser-atom interactions, suitable for both graduate students and researchers.

In view of the rapid growth in both experimental and theoretical studies of multiphoton processes and multiphoton spectroscopy of atoms, ions and molecules in many interdisciplinary fields, an Advanced Series that contains review papers readable not only to active researchers in these areas but also to those who are not experts in the field but intend to enter the field is very necessary. This series attempts to serve this purpose. Each review article is written in a self-contained manner by the experts in the area so that the readers can grasp the knowledge in the area without too much preparation. The collection of topics in this volume will prove useful, valuable and stimulating not only to active researchers but also to other scientists in the areas of biology, chemistry, materials science and physics.

This book provides a fresh, photon‐based description of modern molecular spectroscopy and photophysics, with applications drawn from chemistry, biology, physics and materials science. The concise and detailed approach includes some of the most recent devel

Provides comprehensive coverage of laser-induced ionization processes for mass spectrometry analysis Drawing on the expertise of the leading academic and industrial research groups involved in the development of photoionization methods for mass spectrometry, this reference for analytical scientists covers both the theory and current applications of photo-induced ionization processes. It places widely used techniques such as MALDI side by side with more specialist approaches such as REMPI and RIMS, and discusses leading edge developments in ultrashort laser pulse desorption, to give readers a complete picture of the state of the technology. Photoionization and Photo-Induced Processes in Mass Spectrometry: Fundamentals and Applications starts with a complete overview of the fundamentals of the technique, covering the basics of the gas phase ionization as well as those of laser desorption and ablation, pulse photoionization, and single particle ionization. Numerous application examples from different analytical fields are described that showcase the power and the wide scope of photo ionization in mass spectrometry. The first general reference book on photoionization techniques for mass spectrometry Examines technologies and applications of gas phase resonance-enhanced multiphoton ionization mass spectrometry (REMPI-MS) and gas phase resonance ionization mass spectrometry (RIMS) Provides complete coverage of popular techniques like MALDI Discusses the current and potential applications of each technology, focusing on process and environmental analysis Photoionization and Photo-Induced Processes in Mass Spectrometry: Fundamentals and Applications is an excellent book for spectroscopists, analytical chemists, photochemists, physical chemists, and laser specialists.

The first systematic treatment of fragmentation processes, ideal for graduate students and researchers in atomic collisions, laser physics and chemistry.