Ultrafast dynamics of strong field interactions in the condensed phase

Both solids and liquids when illuminated with an intense ultrashort laser pulse will emit XUV light, with attoseconds duration. This PhD will investigate methods to generate attosecond and extreme UV, (XUV), pulses from different types of materials, with the dual aims of understanding how extreme UV light is produced in these materials and developing XUV photonic devices. This work is part of an emerging new branch of strong field physics, with the potential for a solid-state based, compact source of attosecond pulses. In particular this PhD will investigate the time dependence of extreme electron dynamics in solids and liquids. The strongly driven electrons created in HHG emission generate petahertz rate currents within the bands and these can be exploited to write information onto coherent electron wave emission and develop petahertz opto-electronics.