Fundamental Physics in Strongly Focused Light Fields at Both Intensity Limits, Weak and Strong
by
Gerd Leuchs
(MPI für die Physik des Lichts, Erlangen)
→
Europe/Berlin
Main Lecture Hall (GSI)
Main Lecture Hall
GSI
Description
In this talk, experiments studying light matter interaction at the level of one atom are discussed. A single atom in free space can have a significant effect on a single light beam producing e.g. sizeable phase shifts of a coherent state. Regarding the dynamics, a future goal is demonstrating time reversibility of spontaneous emission underlining the unitary nature of the spontaneous emission process. Without any atom at the origin but with high enough electric field strength one expects pair generation. The required laser power depends on the details of the dynamics of the interaction between light and the vacuum.