Atoms, molecules and lasers - and some heavy computing

Professor Morten Førre, IFT, UiB

Abstract:

In the first part of the talk, I will give an overview of the results that have been achieved in the BFS project "Super Intense Laser Molecule

Interactions" (SILMI). The 4-year theoretical project has been carried out at the Department of Physics and Technology (UiB) and

has been 50% financed by the Bergen Research Foundation and 50% by the

University of Bergen.

In the second part of the talk, I will present our research on the specific problem of two-photon double ionization of atoms and molecules, which is a problem that has been largely debated in the scientific community over the last 10-15 years. This breakup process is fundamental in the sense that it is one of the simplest processes in nature where electron correlations are exhibited. The study of fundamental breakup processes in nature is important and paves the way for further investigations of the role of correlations in few and multiphoton multiple ionization processes in atoms and molecules. I will also point at the essential importance of having access to modern supercomputer facilities in order to address problems of such caliber, and point at possible future directions in this specific research field.