SUBFEMTOSECOND PROCESSES IN STRONG LASER FIELDS

Strong field atomic and molecular interactions can be understood by following electronic dynamics inside the laser cycle. This quasistatic perspective 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 ionization and dissociation with applications to femtochemistry. An all-optical Coulomb explosion method for determining time-dependent molecular structure and properties is demonstrated. The concept of time-dependent Born-Oppenheimer surfaces is used to study molecular dissociation and exchange reactions in infrared fields.