Intense Optical Field Science. Dynamics of Molecules in Intense Laser-Light Fields: New Research Directions.

Abstract

In intense laser light fields, molecules undergo a variety of characteristic processes such asalignment along laser polarization direction, dressed state formation, ultrafast structural deformation, multiple ionization, and Coulomb explosion. The investigation of the dynamical behavior of molecules in intense laser fields has afforded us invaluable opportunities to understand fundamentals of interaction between molecules and light fields as well as to manipulate molecules using characteristics of laser light fields. In the present article, I would like to describe the important aspects of this rapidly growing interdisciplinary research fields, called Molecular Science in Intense Laser Fields, and propose new directions for the next frontiers by introducing our recent studies based on (i) a quasi-stationary Floquet approach, (ii) pulsed gas electron diffraction measurements, and (iii) tandem TOF mass spectroscopy.