PREFACE
Major scientific advancements often are the result of collaborative efforts between institutes, nations, and disciplines. Such collaborations are highly effective since they bring together and leverage the scientific expertise, tools, and interests from different research areas or groups and introduce different ways of viewing and approaching a problem. As a result, the frontiers of scientific understanding of the fundamental properties and interactions of matter move forward, scientists and students as well astheir institutions and nations benefit, long term friendships are formed, and better understanding between people and nations result.
In order to facilitate future collaborative studies to the benefit of atomic, molecular, and optical (AMO) physics, this Pan American Advanced Studies Institute (PASI) was organized around a central theme of“Ultrafast and Ultrasmall: New Frontiers in and beyond AMO Physics”. This theme was selected because AMO physics is rapidly evolving away from studies of how simple, isolated, atoms and molecules respond to outside perturbations to investigations where the time evolution of complex systems is probed. By using ultrafast photon and charged particle probes it is now possible to obtain time dependent information with sub-femtosecond to attosecond resolution. This allows us to follow the evolution and vastly enhance our understanding of atomic and chemical processes since femtosecond time resolution is sufficient to observe the progress of molecular changes or structure of a chemical reaction whereas attosecond times can “freeze” the motion of electrons within atoms or molecules. In order to go beyond simple systems, these ultrafast probes are being used to study atomic processes occurring within nanosized volumes which include isolated atoms and simple molecules, but also include many atom assemblies such as Van der Waal clusters, complex biomolecules, fullerene cages and nanotubes, and, in some cases, liquid solutions of these materials.
As a result of the combination of ultrafast and ultrasmall techniques, the linkage between observed “macroscopic effects” and what initially happened to a single, or a few, atoms is emerging. This represents a significant step over what has been possible to date and is leading to a better overall understanding of complicated, many-body systems and interactions. Ultimately, the goal is to obtain sufficient knowledge such that it will be possible to tailor specific atomic or biochemical processes in order to “shut down” undesirable events or to “turn on” beneficial processes, to prevent or heal damage to bulk materials by inducing repair on the nanoscale, or to generate and control self-assembly nanosystems. Pioneering studies such as those described in the various manuscripts included here are providing information leading to these goals. The information obtained has application in a wide range of fields including atomic physics, atmospheric and astrophysics, engineering and design of improved lighting sources, low-density plasma physics, condensed matter, biology, medicine and chemistry.
Therefore, the scientific purpose of this PASI was to present and discuss the most recent advances in the areas of “ultrafast” and “ultrasmall”. To achieve this, 20 scientists and 34 postdocs and graduate students from Western Hemisphere countries were invited to spend two weeks in Búzios, Brazil, in order to formally and informally discuss their latest research efforts and findings. The countries represented included the USA (2 lecturers/organizers, 4 lecturers, 16 postdocs/students), Brazil (3 lecturers/organizers, 2 lecturers, 6 special lecturers, 11 postdocs/students), México (1 lecturer/organizer, 1 lecturer, 5 postdocs/students), Argentina (1 lecturer, 2 postdocs/students). The attendees were selected with efforts to represent cutting edge research associated with the areas of interest, to represent as many institutions and countries as possible, and to represent different research interests and approaches.
The PASI was held at the Atlântico Búzios Convention & Resort Hotel in Búzios, Brazil, where for two weeks, March 31 – April 11, 2008, 24 one hour long lectures were presented by top scientists involved with ultrafast and/or ultrasmall research, 6 forty five minute special lectures were presented by local scientists from Brazil, and 34 fifteen minute talks were presented by the postdocs/student attendees. This book contains manuscripts from many of the talks. During afternoon breaks, mealtimes and other free time, free flowing discussions assisted in deeper understanding of the various research topics plus in the development of strong friendships among the attendees. An afternoon tour on a boat during a harbor cruise plus another afternoon visiting a couple local beaches added to these friendships.
At the end of an intense, but enjoyable, two weeks, a great deal of scientific knowledge had been exchanged thus broadening the knowledge of all attendees. More importantly many strong relationships and friendships had been formed. The Organizers and Attendees wish to express their gratitude to the organizations that provided support to fund this institute, namely to the National Science Foundation (USA), Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (Brazil), Missouri University of Science and Technology (USA), and Centro latinoamericano de Fisica (Latin America).
The Organizers