Strong field physics in a scaled interaction

Summary form only given, as follows. Over the last decade, the tailoring of a light field for manipulating the dynamics of a system at the quantum level has taken a prevalent role in modern atomic, molecular and optical physics. As first described by Keldysh, the ionization of an atom with an intense laser field scales depending upon frequency and binding energy. We discuss the physics of an alkali metal atom interacting with an intense mid-infrared laser field. Both ionization and harmonic processes are investigated. This understanding provides a roadmap for a quantum jump in ultra-short pulse technology. New experiments are presented which illustrate the appropriateness of strong-field scaling laws and the physics associated with the formation of light pulses on the atomic time-scale (attosecond).