Abstract

Recently, a new experimental regime, in which the optical field strength E is considerably greater than an atomic unit $\left(e/a_0^2\right)$, has become open for systematic study. Indeed, electric field strengths of the order of 100 $\left(e/a_0^2\right)$ should be attainable. This extraordinary range of field strengths has become accessible principally because of the availability of an ultraviolet laser technology capable of producing subpicosecond pulses with energies approaching the joule level in low divergence beams at high repetition rates. Clearly, a technology of this genre will make possible the creation of physical conditions unachievable with any other known experimental means.

© 1986 Optical Society of America