Exact analytical expression for the electromagnetic field in a focused laser beam or pulse

We present a new class of exact nonsingular solutions for the Maxwell equations in vacuum, which describe the electromagnetic field of the counterpropagating focused laser beams and the subperiod focused laser pulse. These solutions are derived by the use of a modification of the "complex source method", investigated and visualized.Comment: 10 pages, 4 figures, an extended version of the talk at the International Conference on Coherent and Nonlinear Optics (ICONO 2007

QED cascades induced by circularly polarized laser fields

The results of Monte-Carlo simulations of electron-positron-photon cascades initiated by slow electrons in circularly polarized fields of ultra-high strength are presented and discussed. Our results confirm previous qualitative estimations [A.M. Fedotov, et al., PRL 105, 080402 (2010)] of the formation of cascades. This sort of cascades has revealed the new property of the restoration of energy and dynamical quantum parameter due to the acceleration of electrons and positrons by the field and may become a dominating feature of laser-matter interactions at ultra-high intensities. Our approach incorporates radiation friction acting on individual electrons and positrons.Comment: 13 pages, 10 figure

Microporous Materials Based on Norbornadiene-Based Cross-Linked Polymers

New microporous homopolymers were readily prepared from norbornadiene-2,5, its dimer and trimer by addition (vinyl) polymerization of the corresponding monomers with 60⁻98% yields. As a catalyst Pd-N-heterocyclic carbene complex or Ni(II) 2-ethylhexanoate activated with Na+[B(3,5-(CF3)2C6H3)4]− or methylaluminoxane was used. The synthesized polynorbornenes are cross-linked and insoluble. They are glassy and amorphous polymers. Depending on the nature of the catalyst applied, BET surface areas were in the range of 420⁻970 m2/g. The polymers with the highest surface area were obtained in the presence of Pd-catalysts from the trimer of norbornadiene-2,5. The total pore volume of the polymers varies from 0.39 to 0.79 cm3/g, while the true volume of micropores was 0.14⁻0.16 cm3/g according to t-plot. These polymers gave CO2 uptake from 1.2 to 1.9 mmol/g at 273 K and 1 atm. The porous structure of new polymers was also studied by means of wide-angle X-ray diffraction and positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy