Introducing our first in a new series of themes

Abstract

This issue of Journal of Physics B: Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics features a comprehensive topical review entitled 'XUV frequency combs via femtosecond enhancement cavities' by Mills et al presenting the current status of femtosecond enhancement cavity based high-order harmonic generation.This topical review is not only very well written and enjoyable to read, but it is also the first of its kind, effectively launching a series of topical reviews, tutorials or invited papers covering the forefront of Laser and Nonlinear Optics—especially for AMO science.The theme of Laser and Nonlinear Optics will be populated over the next year or two with papers commissioned by the Editorial Board and designed to keep all of us informed on the opportunities that these new sources offer AMO science. Coming soon will be a paper on THz generation—a field of great interest to many AMO scientists. We also plan papers describing the concept, characteristics of each of the world's three free electron lasers.Our aim is for Laser and Nonlinear Optics theme papers to be useful to everyone: for theorists who need practical parameters for calculations; for experimentalists who wish to be up-to-date on the newest tools of our science; and to students who will benefit from a clear discussion of emerging technology. We believe that this issue's paper by Mills et al makes an ideal launching pad for the series because XUV frequency combs is a major accomplishment of AMO science that will find its way, not only into our labs, but also into labs of non-AMO scientists as well.While not all future topical reviews, tutorials or invited papers will be arranged in themes, we trust that you will find this new format useful and inspiring. We invite your comments to this new addition to the journal, as well as your suggestions for future theme topics.