Their attosecond system involves a powerful laser split into two components: a fast electron pulse and two ultrashort light pulses. The first light pulse, called the pump pulse, energizes a sample, triggering electron movement or other rapid changes. The second pulse, known as the optical gating pulse, creates a brief window to generate a single attosecond electron pulse. The timing of this gating pulse determines the image resolution. By precisely synchronizing these pulses, researchers can control when the electron pulses probe the sample, allowing them to observe ultrafast atomic-level processes.

  • Coskii
    link
    fedilink
    183 months ago

    This is pretty amazing. I have a random shower thought about the headline at this point.

    Microscopes are any device that can see things smaller than what we can manage with our own eyes… But that range has become extremely massive. It’s to the point where I’d really like a new set of terms for scopes based on the magnification levels.