We are at the beginning of a new revolution in science and technology, which is fueled by the tremendous progress in short-pulse laser technology over the
last 10-15 years. Fundamental physical principles which have been known
before from abstract theory only, are suddenly becoming accessible to direct
experimental observation. These includes the quantum states of single atoms,
Heisenberg's uncertainty principle, low temperature phenomena such as Bose
condensation and Wigner crystallization, as well as ultra-intense electromag-
netic fields and the possiblity to create, in small university facilities, relativistic
electrons or hot dense plasmas which eventually will lead to thermonuclear fu-
sion. In view of the technological applications promised by these developments,
many countries have established special research projects, including, the Na-
tional Ignition Facility in the U.S. or the new Schwerpunkt "Laserfelder" of
the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft in Germany.