SUBFEMTOSECOND PROCESSES IN STRONG LASER FIELDS

Strong field atomic and molecular interactions can be understood by fo llowing electronic dynamics inside the laser cycle. This quasistatic p erspective introduces the subfemtosecond time scale into strong-field dynamics through time-dependent Born-Oppenheimer surfaces. We discuss both theoretical and experimental results in atomic and molecular ioni zation and dissociation with applications to femtochemistry. An all-op tical Coulomb explosion method for determining time-dependent molecula r structure and properties is demonstrated. The concept of time-depend ent Born-Oppenheimer surfaces is used to study molecular dissociation and exchange reactions in infrared fields.