MURI - MIR

近半个世纪以来，强场激光与物质相互作用的研究取得了许多新的基础性发现，并推动了许多应用。从历史上看，强场（SF）物理学的进步取决于激光工程和科学发现之间的共生关系-新激光器使科学和应用成为可能，而新发现进一步推动创新的光学工程。虽然非常成功，但目前的激光技术已将大多数SF研究限制在可见光和近红外（NIR）波长的窄光谱窗口。这现在被认为是一个相应的限制，因为在过去的十年中，很明显，所有的SF现象都受益于更长的中红外（MIR）波长。目前，我们站在一个十字路口的发现，在新的MIR技术的道路上可以再次改变SF物理，无论是我们对它的理解和它的应用。事实上，正如这个提议所提出的，增加波长是一条更快，更强大的通往新物理学的道路，甚至比增加强度。MURI MIR团队将抓住这个机会，开展广泛深入的研究计划，旨在推进MIR SF相互作用研究的实验，理论和技术。此外，我们的项目是有意识地构建的，旨在将这些研究直接与国防部在遥感、定向能、桌面相干短波长光源、紧凑型粒子加速器和MIR激光技术等领域的相关应用联系起来。我们的团队包括五个相互关联的推力领域。其中四个重点集中在SF MIR科学的基本电离，在空气中，相干谐波辐射的产生和MIR驱动的离子和电子激光等离子体加速器。主题的连续性是由简单系统的基础研究锚定的，并跨越推力领域发展到更大的复杂性。认识到过去的教训，第五个重点是致力于发展新的MIR激光技术，以推进我们的科学重点。MURI MIR团队是由5所美国大学的6名合作PI和英国帝国理工学院的6名合作PI组成的联盟。该团队还与世界领先的实验室建立了重要的合作联盟。总体而言，大西洋两岸的实验与理论，互补的专业知识，能力和教育价值保持平衡。团队成员是公认的MIR物理领域的领导者，因此为该计划带来了能力和最先进的MIR设施。

For nearly a half century, investigations of a strong field laser-matter interaction have resulted in new fundamental discoveries and have fueled numerous applications. Historically, the advancement of strong field (SF) physics depended upon a symbiotic relationship between laser engineering and scientific discovery - new lasers enable science & applications while new discovery further drives innovative optical engineering. Although highly successful, present day laser technology has restricted the majority of SF studies to a narrow spectral window of visible & near infrared (NIR) wavelengths. This is now recognized as a consequential limitation, because over the last decade it has become clear that all SF phenomena benefit when they are driven at longer mid-infrared (MIR) wavelengths. At the present time we stand at a crossroad for discovery, where the road toward novel MIR technology can again transform SF physics, both our understanding of it and its applications. In fact, as presented in this proposal, increasing the wavelength is a faster, more robust path towards new physics than even increasing the intensity. The MURI MIR team will seize this opportunity with a broad in-depth research program aimed at advancing experiments, theory and technology for MIR SF interaction studies. In addition, our program is consciously constructed to directly connect these studies to DoD relevant applications in remote sensing, directed energy, tabletop coherent short wavelength light sources, compact particle accelerators and MIR laser technology.Our team encompasses five linked thrust areas. Four of these thrusts focus on SF MIR science in fundamental ionization, filamentation in air, generation of coherent harmonic radiation and MIR driven ion & electron laser-plasma accelerators. The continuity of topics is anchored by foundational studies in simple systems and evolves across thrust areas to greater complexity. Recognizing lessons from the past, the fifth thrust is devoted to the development of novel MIR laser technology to advance our science thrust. The MURI MIR team is an alliance between 6 co-PIs in 5 US universities and 6 co-PIs at Imperial College in the UK. The team also forms key collaborative alliances with world leading laboratories. Overall there is balance in experiment & theory, complementary expertise, capabilities and educational value on both sides of the Atlantic. The team members are recognized leaders in MIR physics and as such bring competency & state-of-the-art MIR facilities to the program.