Taylor & Francis Plasma Harmonics

Plasma harmonics is a new field of laser spectroscopy. The use of the solid elements of the periodic table, together with thousands of complex solid-state samples, largely extends the range of materials employed in plasma harmonics in contrast to the few light rare gases that are typically used. Thus the exploration of practically any available solid-state material through nonlinear spectroscopy comprising laser ablation and harmonic generation can be considered a new tool for materials science. Plasma harmonic spectroscopy exploits the spectral and structural properties of various ablated solid-state materials by propagating short laser pulses through laser-produced plasma and generating high-order harmonics of ultrashort laser pulses. The book describes the special features of plasma harmonics in laser-produced ablation plumes and discusses a wide range of nonlinear medium characteristics that can be produced by varying the conditions of laser plume production on the surface of a solid. This book compiles and details cutting-edge research in science and medicine from the interdisciplinary team of the Michigan Nanotechnology Institute for Medicine and Biological Sciences, who are currently revolutionizing drug delivery techniques through the development of engineered nanodevices. Edited by Istvan J Majoros and James Baker, Jr., two prominent nanotechnology researchers, this book is designed for workers involved in nanotechnology, macromolecular science, cancer therapy, or drug delivery research. Review "This book is on the nascent, upcoming field of ‘plasma harmonics,’ a term coined by the author for the high order harmonics produced in ‘plasma plumes’ instead of in gases. The author is an authority in this field, and the book would be very useful for researchers working in the field of high order harmonic generation using short-pulse lasers." Dr. Prasad A. Naik, Raja Ramanna Centre for Advanced Technology, India "Rashid Ganeev has contributed to the birth and development of HHG from plasma and has used all his experience and physical vision to write this modern and up-to-date presentation of the topic both from the experimental and the theoretical point of view." Prof. Emilio Fiordilino, University of Palermo, Italy "The author has done an excellent job in presenting detailed accounts of various experiments, while at the same time covering a broad range of phenomena in this field." Prof. Tsuneyuki Ozaki, Université INRS, Canada "The author is the driving person of this field that emerged in the last decade and currently shows its great potential. The text is well written and a very useful introduction to this fast-growing field." Dr. Helmut Zacharias, University of Münster, Germany "For both young scientists and experts, the book constitutes an excellent compilation of the newest advances in this highly multidisciplinary field, crisscrossing the domains of material science, nonlinear optics, and laser spectroscopy." Dr. Marta Castillejo, Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Spain "I recommend this book for any researcher who will challenge a nonlinear coherent laser physics toward soft x-ray lasers and their application in any further fields." Prof. Hiroto Kuroda, Advanced Laser Medical Center, Saitama Medical University, Japan About the Author Rashid A. Ganeev is professor at the Ophthalmology and Advanced Laser Medical Center, Saitama Medical University, Japan. The main areas of scientific interests of Prof. Ganeev are the nonlinear optical properties of various materials and the harmonic generation of laser pulses in plasmas. Prof. Ganeev has worked in leading laboratories of Japan, Malaysia, Canada, India, and the United Kingdom, and has written three monographs and more than 280 papers.