High Energy Recollision And Excitation Processes At Ultrahigh Light Intensities

该奖项利用实验室实验和理论模型研究非常强的激光如何激发原子和分子。这项工作支持影响智力优势和更广泛影响的三个主要领域：应用光学技术、基础高强度激光科学，以及美国科学、技术、工程和数学(STEM)个人的下一代全球竞争力。在研究中，以独特的万亿瓦峰值功率激光器为例介绍了应用光学技术。这些激光器产生的可见光和紫外光的强度在实验室中是最高的。对科学知识的贡献是通过研究强光如何激发元素(例如锂、碳、氮、氧)和聚合物碳氢化合物(例如甲烷、丙烷)来实现的。具体地说，这项研究探索了强烈激光-物质相互作用中的高能电子动力学和离子碎裂。人们特别注意量化与原子核结合最紧密的电子有多少是被激发的。这些测量是通过对新的科学实验室设备的投资而实现的，该设备旨在探测高速加速(例如百万伏)的电子并记录复杂的离子碎裂。这项理论工作使用大规模(超级计算机)轨迹系综来模拟相互作用中的激发和相对论效应。这些成果与等离子体物理、聚变能源、物理化学、原子物理和光学科学等学科相关。这项研究致力于开发新的激光光源和阿秒科学，该科学直接测量电子在原子和分子中的运动。该奖项的高场研究是国际社会追求的；参与这项研究的学生接触到了光学和激光科学方面的国际努力。作为更广泛影响的一部分，该奖项致力于提高美国下一代STEM的全球竞争力。该奖项的实验和理论为研究生和本科生提供了关于应用和基础主题的强化培训，包括超快光学、激光脉冲诊断、计算机编程、数据采集硬件、激光对准、光学机械设计、碰撞物理和原子和分子系统中的电子动力学。这项研究提供了跨科学和技术学科的有用技能，从国防承包到医学物理，再到激光材料加工行业。

This award investigates how very intense lasers excite atoms and molecules, using laboratory experiments and theoretical modeling. The work supports three thrust areas that affect intellectual merit and the broader impact: applied optical technology, fundamental high intensity laser science, and next generation global competitiveness for individuals in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) in the United States. Applied optical technology is addressed with the unique, trillion watt peak power lasers in the research. These lasers generate some of the highest intensities of visible and ultraviolet light realized in the lab. The contribution to scientific knowledge comes about by addressing how intense light excites elements (e.g. lithium, carbon, nitrogen, oxygen) and polymer hydrocarbons (e.g. methane, propane). Specifically, the research probes high energy electron dynamics and ion fragmentation in intense laser-matter interactions. Special attention is given to quantifying how many of the electrons most tightly bound to the nucleus are excited. The measurements are made possible by the investment in new scientific laboratory apparatus designed to probe highly accelerated (e.g. million volt) electrons and record the complex ion fragmentation. The theory effort uses large scale (supercomputer) trajectory ensembles to model excitation and relativistic effects in the interaction. The outcomes are relevant to disciplines including plasma physics, fusion energy, physical chemistry, atomic physics, and optical science. The research addresses efforts to develop new laser sources and attosecond science, which directly measure how electrons move in atoms and molecules.The high field research in the award is pursued by the international community; students involved in this research are exposed to international efforts in optics and laser science. As part of a broader impact, the award strives to improve global competitiveness for the next STEM generation in the United States. The experiments and theory in the award provides intensive training for graduate and undergraduate students on applied and fundamental topics including ultrafast optics, laser pulse diagnostics, computer programming, data acquisition hardware, laser alignment, opto-mechanical design, collision physics, and electron dynamics in atomic and molecular systems. The research provides skills helpful across science and technology disciplines from national defense contracting to medical physics to the laser material processing industry.