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Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference: GR/S12425/01
Title: Heidelberg Femtosecond Laser Facility to Study Collective Effects in Negative Ions
Principal Investigator: Greenwood, Dr JB
Other Investigators:
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
Max Planck Institutes (Grouped)
Department: Sch of Mathematics and Physics
Organisation: Queen's University of Belfast
Scheme: Standard Research (Pre-FEC)
Starts: 01 April 2003 Ends: 31 March 2004 Value (£): 12,346
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:
Light-Matter Interactions Scattering & Spectroscopy
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:
No relevance to Underpinning Sectors
Related Grants:
Panel History:  
Summary on Grant Application Form
A free electron in a laser field oscillates due to the force exerted by the oscillating electromagnetic field. If there is more than one electron, collective motion of the electrons can occur and they can efficiently absorb the incoming radiation. This behaviour results in resonant absorption features in solids and is used to polarise light. Collective electronic motion is also observed in clusters of atoms where electrons are free to roam within the boundaries of this miniature droplet. However, in individual atoms, electrons are rigidly confined by the Coulomb attraction from the positive nucleus.For collective electron motion to occur in an atomic system, the laser field must be comparable to the Coulomb force. Unfortunately, electrons are stripped away from the atom before this regime can be reached. In this research project these limitations are overcome by using, negative ions as the source of loosely bound electrons, and ultra-fast laser pulses to ensure these electrons are bathed in intense radiation almost instantaneously. Collective behaviour will be sought out by observing the numbers of electrons subsequently expelled from the negative ion.
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Organisation Website: http://www.qub.ac.uk