Publisher's Synopsis
This comprehensive book presents at a theoretical level the main aspects of high-power lasers interacting with nuclei at a broad range of intensities for scientists and students involved in this new and challenging area of research. It presents theoretical techniques, some borrowed from atomic physics, and applications related to important chapters of nuclear physics. This book provides an overview of the field's state-of-the-art and an introduction to the classical and quantum foundations of the interaction of a particle or a system of particles with the electromagnetic field. Topics such as particle emission of nuclei, collective dipole modes induced by strong laser beams and laser-assisted heavy-ion scattering are discussed. Key Features: Collects the main theoretical methods that apply to the interaction between strong lasers and nuclear matter for the first time Fills a gap in the current book literature by covering this timely topic Is accessible not only to specialists from nuclear physics but also to specialists from atomic physics or plasma physics.