HIGH-INTENSITY LASERS - INTERACTIONS WITH ATOMS, MOLECULES AND CLUSTERS

The development of high-intensity short-pulse lasers by chirped pulse amplification is described and the use of short intense pulses for the study of atoms and molecules is discussed. As a case study, the dynam ics of the ionization and dissociation of clusters of noble gas atoms is reviewed with special emphasis on the generation of energetic elect rons and highly charged ions.