Multiple ionization of atoms and molecules in strong laser fields

The project extends and combines two state-of-the-art approaches to multiple atomic ionization developed by the applicant and his collaborators. The direct solution of the time-dependent Schr dinger equation on a square-integrable basis will be merged with the convergent close-coupling (CCC) method and applied to quasi two-electron atoms and molecules subjected to strong laser fields. These developments will be tested in experiments with the world's first soft X-ray free-electron laser, and will enable accurate modelling of various physical processes involving intense laser field interaction with matter and hence support applications in plasma physics, controlled fusion, life and materials sciences.