Application of x-ray lasers to current and future experiments in atomic and molecular physics

The use of intrinsically narrow-banded, intense x-ray lasers has the potential for a significant impact in atomic and molecular physics. As with any new technology, it is impossible to predict all the new information which may emerge as the technology develops. At least at the beginning it will be important for these lasers to have applicability to existing experimental methods, which can then exploit the new tool for experiments which are currently barely feasible with existing and planned sources of radiation in the high-energy regime. Examples of these are: resonant Auger decay, particularly of dilute species, studied with electron spectrometry; multi-photon processes involving the simultaneous utilization of two laser photons; and fragmentation experiments in which the high-energy photon is one of a pump-probe pair. Results from these experiments will go a long way to suggesting directions for future study