Since the invention of the laser in the 1960s, people have strived to reach higher intensities and shorter pulse durations. High intensities and ultrashort pulse durations are intimately related. Recent developments have shown that high intensity lasers also open the way to realize pulses with the shortest durations to date, giving birth to the field of attosecond science (1 asec = 10<SUP>-18s). This book is about high-intensity lasers and their applications. The goal is to give an up to date introduction to the technology behind these laser systems and to the broad range of intense laser applications. These applications include AMO (atomic molecular and optical) physics, x-ray science, attosecond science, plasma physics and particle acceleration, condensed matter science and laser micromachining, and finally even high-energy physics.
Springer Series in OPTICAL SCIENCES Founded by H.K.V. Lotsch Editor-in-Chief: W.T. Rhodes, Atlanta Editorial Board: A. Adibi, Atlanta T. Asakura, Sapporo T.W. Ha¨nsch, Garching T. Kamiya, Tokyo F. Krausz, Garching B. Monemar, Linkoping ¨ H. Venghaus, Berlin H. Weber, Berlin H. Weinfurter, Munich 134 Springer Series in OPTICAL SCIENCES The Springer Series in Optical Sciences, under the leadership of Editor-in-Chief William T. Rhodes, Georgia Institute of Technology, USA, provides an expanding selection of research monographs in all major areas of optics: lasers and quantum optics, ultrafast phenomena, optical spectroscopy techniques, optoelectronics, quantum information, information optics, applied laser technology, industrial applications, and other topics of contemporary interest. With this broad coverage of topics, the series is of use to all research scientists and engineers who need up-to-date reference books. The editors encourage prospective authors to correspond with them in advance of submitting a manuscript. Submission of manuscripts should be made to the Editor-in-Chief or one of the Editors. See also www.springer.com/series/624 Editor-in-Chief William T. Rhodes Georgia Institute of Technology School of Electrical and Computer Engineering Atlanta, GA 30332-0250, USA E-mail:
[email protected] Editorial Board Ali Adibi Bo Monemar Georgia Institute of Technology School of Electrical and Computer Engineering Atlanta, GA 30332-0250, USA E-mail:
[email protected] Department of Physics and Measurement Technology Materials Science Division Linkoping University 58183 Linköping, Sweden E-mail:
[email protected] Toshimitsu Asakura Hokkai-Gakuen University Faculty of Engineering 1-I, Minami-26, Nishi 11, Chuo-ku Sapporo, Hokkaido 064-0926, Japan E-mail:
[email protected] Theodor W. Hansch Max-Planck-Institut für Quantenoptik Hans-Kopfermann-Straße I 85748 Garching, Germany E-mail:
[email protected] Takeshi Kamiya Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports Science and Technology National Institution for Academic Degrees 3-29-1 Otsuka, Bunkyo-ku Tokyo 112-0012, Japan E-mail:
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