Ultrafast Electron Dynamics

The course will be a theoretical overview of ultrafast science both from a "detector" and a "source" perspective. On the detector side, we will learn how to reconstruct electron dynamics inside atoms and molecules from experimental data. Particular emphasis will be given to Strong Field Approximation (SFA) and the tunnelling model, which are widely used to interpret today's experiments. On the source side, we will study the possibility of production of attosecond pulses by interaction of intense laser fields with plasmas. Plasmas are currently the most viable alternative to obtaining higher intensity, shorter pulses than currently possible with other methods. The relativistic regime in laser-plasma interaction is very different from what is encountered in conventional strong field physics, and also applies to Free Electron Lasers.