Atoms and ions in very high fields

This lecture will take a very quick tour of how d.c. and a.c. electric fields affect atoms and ions along with atomic and molecular processes. Some of the topics discussed are the subject of great interest and speculation at the present time. The discussion will be qualitative throughout even when discussing sophisticated aspects of theories. The one theoretical construct made much use of is that of a dressed state. This has proved to be of immense utility in much of the physics. 39 references