Femtosecond Laser-Matter Interaction: Theory, Experiments and Applications

The book is the first comprehensive treatment of interaction of laser pulses of short relaxation times with solids at non-relativistic intensity. The focus lies on connecting phenomena from the subtle atomic motion on the nanoscale to generation of extreme pressure and temperature in the interaction zone confined inside a solid. The femtosecond laser-matter interaction has already found numerous applications in industries, medicine, and in materials science. However, there is no consensus in the interpretation of related phenomena in existing literatures. This book reaffirms and connects the basic physics of femtosecond laser-solid interactions to the broad range of applications. Basic assumptions are derived from the first principles, and new results and ideas are presented. From these analyses, a qualitative and predictive framework for the field emerges, the impact of which on the applications is discussed extensively. With mathematics kept to a minimum, this is a highly engaging and readable book for students and researchers in science and engineering.

Eugene Gamaly is professor at the Australian National University. He is a referee and editor to numerous physics journals and has published more than 300 publications.