Strong-field nano-optics

Abstract

When electromagnetic fields impinge on nanoscale structured materials, optical field concentrations can occur that enhance the field strength up to 2 orders of magnitude. The strong-field interaction physics enabled by these nano-optical building blocks probes highly nonlinear phenomena that can pave the way toward unique probes of matter such as ultrafast electron imaging and spectroscopy and ultrahigh frequency transistor concepts that are preludes to light-wave electronics. This article reviews the fundamentals and applications of these phenomena.