Ultrafast Atomic Dynamics and Extreme Light Source Generation
This community investigates how atoms and molecules respond to intense laser fields and extreme ultraviolet radiation, focusing on the generation of high-energy light sources and the measurement of electron dynamics on attosecond timescales.
The work centers on high-order harmonic generation, where intense laser pulses interact with gas targets to produce extreme ultraviolet and soft x-ray light. Key methods include femtosecond and attosecond laser pulses, photoelectron spectroscopy, and free-electron lasers. Recurring subjects include double ionization, electron scattering, and the behavior of highly charged ions. The research frequently utilizes noble gases such as helium, neon, and argon as target media, and applies these techniques to probe excited states, energy levels, and transient absorption in atomic and molecular systems.
The largest share of the community's output is found in neon research, accounting for 9.6% of all neon research, and 7,171 papers here. Helium research also features prominently, representing 7.2% of all helium research, with 7,171 papers in this group.
The community comprises 49,746 papers, publishing most frequently in Physical Review A, Journal of Physics B: Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics, and The Journal of Chemical Physics.
Recent work continues to focus on attosecond science, including the temporal characterization of few-cycle vacuum ultraviolet pulses, photoionization time delays, and the use of soft x-ray tomography for biological imaging.