Electron Dynamics in Laser Fields

In Chapter 5, we have studied some of the effects of laser fields on chemical dynamics. In particular, we have investigated how time-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy can be used as a very good means to monitor the femtosecond-scale nuclear dynamics such as the passage across nonadia-batic regions. The modulation of nonadiabatic interactions (both avoided crossing and conical intersection) is also among the main subjects from the view point of control of chemical reaction. Chapter 7, on the other hand, has treated nonadiabatic electron wavepacket dynamics relevant to chemical reactions. Here in this chapter, we therefore rise to the theory of electron dynamics in laser fields mainly associated with chemical dynamics. 

We first take a brief look at the recent progress of experimental methods in a conceptual manner, and then consider what and how we can do theoretically to enhance the progress. Before starting though we note that the present chapter is not dedicated to an introduction to the vast field of photochemistry or excited-state chemistry, in which usually rather weak optical source is applied in a level of weak perturbation and create an excited state with a timed wavelength resonant to the relevant energy gap. Also, the recent extensive progress in nonlinear optics and its applications to molecular science will be mentioned here. 

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