| description: |
Several novel types of laser beams (different Bessel beams, annular beams, segmented conical or Mathieu beams, and others) will be used to drive nonlinear processes in gases and solids. Investigations are aimed to study interesting and potentially useful properties of novel beams in the field of nonlinear optics, whereas the ordinary and well-known Gaussian beams will be used as reference ones. It is planned to study generation of low-order harmonics, gas-phase resonance-enhanced multiphoton excitation and ionization, the role of harmonic photons in multiphoton processes, destructive and constructive interference in multiphoton processes with the use of both Gaussian and non-Gaussian beams. Basic idea is that the novel types of light beams have, in general, the amplitude and the phase profile essentially different from the Gaussian ones. In the field of nonlinear optics, the use of such novel beams leads to several specific and interesting features and effects. The information obtained is expected to give a new insight into the properties of nontraditional light fields and their possible applications in nonlinear optics. |