Control and coherence of the few-particle continuum

• Applicant: Professor Dr. John S. Briggs
• Subject Area: Optics, Quantum Optics and Physics of Atoms, Molecules and Plasmas
• Term: from 2005 to 2011
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 20517287

This project is concerned with the theory of the control and coherence of continuum states in laser and particle-impact fragmentation processes. The main part of the project is dedicated to the theory of ionisation in short, few-cycle but intense laser pulses where recently the authors have proposed a method by which ionisation and recombination can be achieved in a controlled way. Additionally, the study of real-time electron dynamics in atto-second pulses will be pursued in the project. The coherence properties of continuum states is also of major interest. The spatio-temporal coherence of states produced by ionization of coherent superpositions of bound states or in the correlated motion of multi-fragment continuum states will be studied using a variety of analytic and numerical approaches. At all stages a close cooperation with the experimental work in the Forschergruppe is envisaged, particularly with the aim of proposing new types of experiment made feasible by the advances in multi-particle coincidence detection techniques.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• Participating Person: Professor Dr. Walter Strunz